Randy Pippin joined the Tigers in April 2013 when he was named the ECU Defensive Coordinator.
In his first season with the Tigers, Pippin saw six players earn All-GAC honors, including corner back Qumain Black and safety Fred Gaines, who were named to the first team. Black and Gaines also earned Don Hansen All-Super Region Three honors and Gaines was a Beyond Sports Network All-America Second Team pick.
The Tigers defense led the GAC in take-away’s per game and ranked among the nation’s best in the category, with 30 or 3.0 per game.
ECU’s defense continued to prove tough to crack for opponents, especially on the rush. The Tigers set a new season record for the fewest rushing yards allowed in a season with 1,485 in 2013. The previous record was 1,628 set during the 1993 season that ended in the NAIA National Championship.
Pippin has spent the last 26 years coaching football at different levels, including 14 years as a head coach. He spent the last season as the defensive coordinator at East Texas Baptist where his defense finished the season amongst NCAA leaders in takeaways and No. 2 in the American Southwest Conference against the run. His team allowed just 142 yards per game. He also directed the Texas Nike Coach of the Year Clinics.
Prior to joining the staff at ETBU, Pippin was the head coach at The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Classical Academy finished 12th in the state despite being the smallest school in its class.
While in Colorado, Pippin also served as the National Director of the Glazier/Mega Football Coaching Clinics before joining ETBU. He joined Glazier after being the head coach at Northwest Mississippi, where he guided the Rangers to the conference championship in 2006.
Pippin was also the head coach at the University of West Alabama from 2001-2003. During his time with the Tigers he earned Small College Coach of the Year in Alabama in 2002 after West Alabama defeated Arkansas-Monticello, Delta State, West Georgia and North Alabama in the same season for the first time in school history.
Prior to taking the job at West Alabama, Pippin was the head football coach and athletic director at Middle Georgia College (1998-2000). While at MGC, the team had two 10-win seasons and made two appearances in the bowl championships, defeating Northwest Mississippi, 41-3, and Lackawanna, 35-7. He helped Kendrell Bell move on to the NFL, where he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Pippin also spent two seasons (1996-97) as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech, where he coached the school’s all-time single season leader in total offense at the time.
Before joining the Golden Eagles he had a very successful time as the head coach at Trinity Valley (1993-95), where he guided the Cardinals to a 24-8-2 record, which included the 1994 Junior College National Championship. During his time at Trinity Valley, he produced 19 all-conference players and six All-Americans. That list includes kicker Matt Bryant and cornerback Al Harris, both who had stellar NFL careers.
The 1994 season saw not just a national championship, but a 12-0 mark and the No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA through the entire season. For his efforts, Pippin was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year and was recently inducted into the TVCC Hall of Fame.
Before being named the head coach at Trinity Valley, Pippin served as the team’s defensive coordinator (1990-92) for three seasons.
Pippin, a Mesquite, Texas, native played his football for North Mesquite High School, Cisco Junior College and Tennessee Tech University where he obtained his two degrees and began his coaching career. Pippin is married to the former Sally Horton and they have four girls; Natalie, Holly, Libby and Gracie.
