Kentucky, 1979 - 18th Year
Randy Gipson is currently in his 18th campaign at the helm of the Northeastern State women’s basketball program. He entered the 2016-17 season with a combined 309-184 record as head coach of the RiverHawks.
He has recorded 14 winning seasons in his 17 years at NSU, and he has led his program to seven appearances in the NCAA Championship. His NSU women’s basketball teams have earned two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2004, ‘10), while advancing to the NCAA Second Round two of the last three seasons (2011-12).
Gipson came to Northeastern State in 1999, and he captured six Lone Star Conference North Division Championships in a 12-year span. He also led NSU to the 2003 LSC Tournament Championship, while finishing runner up in the conference tournament on three occasions (2004, ‘05, ‘10).
He has coached two All-Americans (Jasmine Webb, Taylor Lewis), one MIAA Player of the Year, two LSC Players of the Year and numerous all-conference players during his tenure at Northeastern State.
Gipson has led NSU to the MIAA Championship playoffs all four years that the RiverHawks have been members of the conference, which includes three trips to the quarterfinals.
The 2012-13 campaign was the first for Northeastern State in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and the squad finished second in the regular season with a 14-4 league mark.
The team landed in the top 10 nationally in six statistical categories, including fewest turnovers per game (3rd), fewest personal fouls per game (4th), three-point field-goal percentage (7th), assist-turnover ratio (9th), scoring defense (10th), and three-point field goals per game (10th).
Gipson’s 2011-12 squad ranked in the top 25 nationally in eight statistical categories. NSU was second in all of NCAA Division II in assist-turnover ratio (1.26), fourth in fewest turnovers per game (12.7), fifth in scoring defense (52.2), 12th in three-point field goals made per game (7.9), 13th in field-goal percentage defense (.347), 14th in won-lost percentage (.833), 23rd in assists per game (16.1), and 24th in scoring margin (11.1).
His 2010-11 team hosted the NCAA South Central Regional as the No. 1 seed.
Gipson has 28 years of college head coaching experience, and he owns an all-time mark of 599-261 as a head coach.
He began his career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO), where he spent 11 years leading the Lady Norse. He took NEO to a National Runner-up finish in 1991, and he was named Region II Coach of the Year three times.
Gipson looks for student-athletes that possess a clear talent and strong character. Along with his trademark motion offense, Gipson’s teams are known for a scrappy man-to-man defense, which is often among the leaders in various NCAA Division II defensive categories.
Gipson prides his student-athletes on being leaders on the court and in the classroom, graduating 97 percent of those completing eligibility.
Gipson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1979 and his master’s degree in secondary school counseling from Pittsburg State University.
Gipson has one daughter, Carly, who currently attends the University of Arkansas.
Gipson’s Year-By-Year Record as a collegiate head coach in the NCAA
| Year |
School |
W-L |
Postseason |
| 2015-16 |
Northeastern State |
8-21 |
|
| 2014-15 |
Northeastern State |
12-16 |
|
| 2013-14 |
Northeastern State |
11-17 |
|
| 2012-13 |
Northeastern State |
19-8 |
|
| 2011-12 |
Northeastern State |
25-5 |
NCAA Second Round |
| 2010-11 |
Northeastern State |
25-5 |
NCAA Second Round |
| 2009-10 |
Northeastern State |
28-7 |
NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2008-09 |
Northeastern State |
16-12 |
|
| 2007-08 |
Northeastern State |
16-12 |
|
| 2006-07 |
Northeastern State |
15-10 |
|
| 2005-06 |
Northeastern State |
18-11 |
NCAA First Round |
| 2004-05 |
Northeastern State |
21-10 |
NCAA First Round |
| 2003-04 |
Northeastern State |
25-8 |
NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2002-03 |
Northeastern State |
24-7 |
NCAA First Round |
| 2001-02 |
Northeastern State |
14-12 |
|
| 2000-01 |
Northeastern State |
17-10 |
|
| 1999-00 |
Northeastern State |
15-12 |
|
Lone Star Conference Championships
| Year |
Type |
| 2011 |
North Division Champions |
| 2010 |
North Division Champions, Tournament Runner-Up |
| 2008 |
North Division Champions |
| 2005 |
North Division Champions, Tournament Runner-Up |
| 2004 |
North Division Champions, Tournament Runner-Up |
| 2003 |
North Division Champions, Tournament Champions |
Gipson’s Career Records entering 2016-17
|
Record |
Percentage |
| at NSU |
309-184 (17 years) |
0.627 |
| at NEO |
290-77 (11 years) |
0.790 |
| All-Time |
599-261 (28 years) |
0.697 |
