Dave Lipp enters his 23rd season as the head coach for the Northwest Christian College men’s basketball program. Lipp has been at the helm since 1990 and previously held the head coaching position from 1980-1985.
During his tenure he has led the Beacons/Crusaders to thirteen national championship tournament appearances, winning five national titles. His teams won three straight National Bible College Athletic Association (NBCAA) championships from 1983-1985 and back-to-back National Small College Athletics Association (NSCAA) championships in 1998 and 1999.
Coach Lipp surpassed the 400 win plateau during the 2006-2007 season and holds a .656 winning percentage. He has also produced ten 20-win seasons.
Coach Lipp has been associated with NCC since his first year as a student in 1969. He played three seasons for the Crusaders, earning team-MVP honors twice, and garnering All-Conference honors in 1971. Lipp then spent the next nine years as an assistant coach with the Crusaders, before taking over coaching responsibilities in 1980.
Lipp left Northwest Christian College in 1985, when he was hired as the Assistant Head Coach for the University of Oregon, where he spent the next five years. During that time the Ducks won the 1986 Pac-10 championship, made an NCAA tournament appearance in 1987 and won the 1989 Women’s NIT. Lipp was also hired in 1985 to be the first ever Women’s Golf Coach for the Ducks.
Lipp also served as the NCC Athletic Director for 20 years, during which time he spearheaded numerous fundraising campaigns. He began a booster club and implemented numerous capital campaigns. Lipp has also been the director for the NCC Athletic Auction for 14 years and has run the NCC Athletic Golf Tournament since it’s inception in 1994.
Outside of the basketball community, coach Lipp is perhaps most well known for his history within the sport of Baseball. Prior to enrolling at NCC, Lipp spent three years playing professional baseball in the NY Mets organization, from 1967-1969. He was a Cal State League All-Star second-baseman while playing for the Double-A Visalia Mets. Coach Lipp also coached baseball for one season at Northwest Christian, as well as one year at Churchill High School in Eugene.
Lipp earned his BS in Christian Education from NCC in 1971. He currently lives in Eugene with Julie, his wife of 24 years. They have three daughters; Jennifer, Jessie and Jacquie.
