Dave Fipp
Encyclopedia
Dave Fipp, is an American football
coach currently serving as assistant special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins
of the National Football League
.
, in La Jolla, California and graduated in 1993. In addition to playing football for the La Jolla High School Vikings, Fipp was a ranked pole vaulter in the state of California and at one time held La Jolla’s record with a mark of 15’5”.
, Fipp played for the Wildcats
under Head Coach Dick Tomey
from 1994 to 1997. As a walk-on, Fipp led Arizona’s special teams unit in tackles as a sophomore in 1995. He received a scholarship prior to the 1996 season and was the Wildcats’ starting free safety in 1996 and 1997. The 1997 Wildcats were among the top defensive units in the Pacific-10 Conference and ranked 12th nationally in rushing defense. He graduated from Arizona with a bachelor's degree in family studies in 1997.
as a secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1998. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Arizona, for the 2000 season as a graduate assistant and coached the safeties. When former Arizona defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson
took the head coaching position at Cal Poly
in 2001 he brought Fipp with him as his secondary coach. Fipp was promoted to defensive coordinator for the following two seasons before he left to take the same role at University of Nevada
. Fipp spent the 2004 season at Nevada working for Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault
as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. The Wolf Pack’s pass defense was 21st nationally and third in the Western Athletic Conference in yardage allowed.
Fipp left Nevada for San Jose State
as one of Dick Tomey’s first hires after Tomey was named head coach in December 2004. In 2005 and 2006, Fipp was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach before being named the defensive coordinator for the 2007 season. During his three seasons working with the Spartans’ defense, San Jose State yielded an average of 27.2 points a game including just 20.8 points a contest in 2006, the fewest given up by the program in 16 years. San Jose State’s defense allowed 37.8 points a game in the three seasons prior to Fipp’s arrival. In 2006, the Spartans kept five teams scoreless in the second half as San Jose State went on a 9-4 win-loss record and the 2006 New Mexico Bowl title.
One of the youngest defensive coordinators in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision, Fipp accumulated six seasons as a defensive or co-defensive coordinator at NCAA programs before leaving to coach in the NFL prior to the 2008 season.
Fipp spent three years with the San Francisco 49ers
as assistant special teams coach. The 49ers credit Fipp as playing a critical role in the team's excellent special teams play. In 2009, Punter Andy Lee
earned his second Pro Bowl selection after ranking 2nd in the NFL in gross punting average (47.6) and net punting average (41.0). Running Back Michael Robinson was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a specialist for his work in all phases of special teams, marking the second consecutive season he had earned the recognition. Kicker Joe Nedney
continued his successful career with Fipp’s guidance, finishing the 2009 season ranked 38th on the NFL’s all-time scoring list with 1,063 points.
In January, 2011 Fipp joined the Miami Dolphins
staff as assistant special teams coach.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach currently serving as assistant special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Early years
Fipp attended La Jolla High SchoolLa Jolla High School
La Jolla, CA 92037 Enrollment 1,650 Colors Black & Red██ Mascot Viking Rival Schools The Bishop's School, Cathedral Catholic High School, Mission Bay High School, University City High School Homepage...
, in La Jolla, California and graduated in 1993. In addition to playing football for the La Jolla High School Vikings, Fipp was a ranked pole vaulter in the state of California and at one time held La Jolla’s record with a mark of 15’5”.
College career
A 1997 graduate from the University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, Fipp played for the Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
under Head Coach Dick Tomey
Dick Tomey
-External links:* *...
from 1994 to 1997. As a walk-on, Fipp led Arizona’s special teams unit in tackles as a sophomore in 1995. He received a scholarship prior to the 1996 season and was the Wildcats’ starting free safety in 1996 and 1997. The 1997 Wildcats were among the top defensive units in the Pacific-10 Conference and ranked 12th nationally in rushing defense. He graduated from Arizona with a bachelor's degree in family studies in 1997.
Coaching career
Fipp began his coaching career at Holy CrossHoly Cross Crusaders football
The Holy Cross Crusaders football team is the collegiate football program of the College of the Holy Cross. The team is a member of the Patriot League, an NCAA Division I conference that participates in the second-level Football Championship Subdivision, more commonly known as FCS or the...
as a secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1998. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Arizona, for the 2000 season as a graduate assistant and coached the safeties. When former Arizona defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson
Rich Ellerson
Rich Ellerson is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the United States Military Academy, a position he has held since the 2009 season. Ellerson served as the head football at Southern Utah University in 1996 and at California Polytechnic State...
took the head coaching position at Cal Poly
Cal Poly Mustangs football
The Mustang football team is the college football team of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. The team plays its home games in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The current head coach is Tim Walsh, who began his tenure in 2009....
in 2001 he brought Fipp with him as his secondary coach. Fipp was promoted to defensive coordinator for the following two seasons before he left to take the same role at University of Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
. Fipp spent the 2004 season at Nevada working for Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault
Chris Ault
Chris Ault is the current college football head coach of the University of Nevada Wolf Pack. Ault, along with John Gagliardi, is one of two active coaches who have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame....
as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. The Wolf Pack’s pass defense was 21st nationally and third in the Western Athletic Conference in yardage allowed.
Fipp left Nevada for San Jose State
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
as one of Dick Tomey’s first hires after Tomey was named head coach in December 2004. In 2005 and 2006, Fipp was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach before being named the defensive coordinator for the 2007 season. During his three seasons working with the Spartans’ defense, San Jose State yielded an average of 27.2 points a game including just 20.8 points a contest in 2006, the fewest given up by the program in 16 years. San Jose State’s defense allowed 37.8 points a game in the three seasons prior to Fipp’s arrival. In 2006, the Spartans kept five teams scoreless in the second half as San Jose State went on a 9-4 win-loss record and the 2006 New Mexico Bowl title.
One of the youngest defensive coordinators in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision, Fipp accumulated six seasons as a defensive or co-defensive coordinator at NCAA programs before leaving to coach in the NFL prior to the 2008 season.
Fipp spent three years with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as assistant special teams coach. The 49ers credit Fipp as playing a critical role in the team's excellent special teams play. In 2009, Punter Andy Lee
Andy Lee (American football)
Andrew Paul Lee is a punter in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 6th round in the 2004 NFL Draft and is currently serving a 6 year, $7.1 million contract that runs through 2012. The contract also included a $1.66 million signing bonus...
earned his second Pro Bowl selection after ranking 2nd in the NFL in gross punting average (47.6) and net punting average (41.0). Running Back Michael Robinson was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a specialist for his work in all phases of special teams, marking the second consecutive season he had earned the recognition. Kicker Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
continued his successful career with Fipp’s guidance, finishing the 2009 season ranked 38th on the NFL’s all-time scoring list with 1,063 points.
In January, 2011 Fipp joined the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
staff as assistant special teams coach.
Personal life
Fipp lives in San Jose, California with his wife Jenny, and their three children; daughters Ashlee and Lilly and son Tyler.External links
- San Francisco 49ers Website - Current Coaches - Dave Fipp
- Coach Dave Fipp: Road to the NFL 49ers Magazine 9/8/2009
- Walk-on Fipp 'likes idea of being an unknown' Arizona Daily Wildcat 9/16/1996