Greg Tipps enters his first season as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee Southern in 2026–27, becoming the 11th head mentor in the program’s four-year era.
One of the most accomplished and respected coaches in Tennessee high school basketball, Tipps brings decades of championship experience and nearly 500 career victories to Pulaski. Throughout his career, he has served as head coach at Coffee County, Moore County, Loretto, Stone Memorial, and Dickson County, building a reputation for developing winning programs and mentoring high-level student-athletes.
Tipps most recently spent nine seasons at Loretto High School, where he continued the tradition of one of the state’s premier basketball programs. During his tenure coaching the Loretto girls program, the Mustangs reached three TSSAA State Tournament appearances and advanced to two Final Fours.
He also guided the Loretto boys program to four state tournament appearances, three Final Four trips, and two TSSAA State Championships, adding to an already decorated coaching résumé.
Prior to Loretto, Tipps led the Dickson County girls basketball program to two state tournament appearances and one Final Four berth. Across all coaching stops, his teams consistently competed among the top programs in Tennessee.
In his prep coaching career, Tipps owns 493 career victories, 12 sectional championships, nine state tournament appearances, six Final Four appearances, and two state championships. Over the last 11 seasons, his programs posted a 76 percent winning percentage while averaging more than 20 wins per season.
Beyond team success, Tipps has coached and developed numerous standout athletes who advanced to collegiate and professional careers. At Coffee County, he coached Amber Benjamin, who earned Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year honors before signing with Auburn. He also coached McDonald’s All-American Lea Lea Carter, who went on to play at Vanderbilt.
Tipps has additionally mentored elite multi-sport athletes, including Ryan Weathers, now a Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Yankees, and Blade Tidwell, a professional pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization.
Known for his emphasis on leadership, toughness, and player development, Tipps takes over a UT Southern women’s basketball program coming off a historic season that saw the Firehawks finish ranked No. 24 in the final NAIA Women’s Basketball Top 25 Poll and earn the program’s first-ever NAIA National Championship game victory.
A Tennessee native, Tipps is the son of Mike and Virginia Tipps. He and his wife, Paige, have four children: Brendon, Baylor, Maddyn, and Archie. Paige’s father, Mike Rhodes, played basketball at Vanderbilt.
