Corey Gipson is in his third season at the helm of his alma mater after being named the 14th Austin Peay head basketball coach, March 12, 2023.
Gipson has led the Governors to the Atlantic Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament in each of his first two seasons at Austin Peay, including an appearance in the ASUN Tournament Championship game during his inaugural season back in Clarksville.
A two-time Austin Peay graduate who won three Ohio Valley Conference titles during his two seasons as a playing for the Governors (2002-04) and worked as an assistant coach for Dave Loos for three seasons (2012-15).
Gipson graduated from APSU with a bachelor’s degree in 2004, and with a master’s degree in 2005. He was named the Austin Peay Young Alumnus of the Year in 2012.
He and his wife, April, have three children: Jordan, Tanner, and Frankie.
GIPSON’S COACHING CAREER
AUSTIN PEAY (2023-CURRENT)
2024-25: Austin Peay won 14 games during Gipson’s second season as head coach, with eight wins in ASUN Conference play. Gipson signed a nine-man recruiting class ahead of the 2024-25 season, which was highlighted by Tate McCubbin, who later became the eighth player in program history – and the first since the program joined the ASUN Conference – to earn Freshman of the Year honors. In addition, Isaac Haney earned Third Team All-ASUN and Academic All-ASUN honors, while Quan Lax was tabbed a College Sports Communicators All-District Team selection. The Governors’ 2024-25 season unofficially began with a three-game, nine-day trip to Spain where they played teams from Barcelona and Madrid in its first time on the international stage since 2012. They later defeated North Florida in the opening round of the ASUN Men’s Basketball Championship, making Gipson the second coach in program history to win at least one postseason game across each of his first two seasons at the helm of Governors basketball. For the second-straight season, the Governors broke the made three-pointers record with 280, while also setting the single-season attempt mark with 810. In addition to the season-long record, APSU broke the single-game three-pointer record with 19 made triples in a 97-90 overtime win against Eastern Kentucky in which McCubbin tied the individual record with nine made threes and 16 attempts.
2023-24: Gipson’s first season back in Clarksville was nothing short of historic, as he orchestrated the greatest turnaround in the ASUN Conference, the second-best in the Governors’ Division I Era – dating back to 1963 – and the 12th-best in the NCAA after leading Austin Peay to a 10-win improvement with a 19-16 record, including a 10-6 mark in ASUN play. Those 19 wins also are tied for the most by a head coach in their first season. Gipson brought an NCAA-best 13 newcomers to Clarksville during the 2023-24 season, including six from Northwestern State, where he served as head coach during the previous year. The 13 newcomers were highlighted by DeMarcus Sharp’s historic season in Clarksville, as the point guard became the first player in program history to earn All-ASUN honors – and the 100th overall all-conference selection in program history – with his Third Team All-ASUN recognition, in addition he was a ASUN Championship All-Tournament Team honoree and earned a league-best four ASUN Newcomer of the Week selections. The Governors broke the single-season marks in three-pointers made (277) and attempted (768) during his first season, with the perimeter barrage being led by another newcomer from Northwestern State in Ja’Monta Black. During his lone season in Clarksville, Black broke Austin Peay’s single-season records in three-pointers made (113) and attempted (286), as well as minutes played (1,251). Black’s 113 triples tied for fourth in the NCAA, as the graduate student guard finished his college career 30th all-time in Division I history with 393 career triples. During the 2023-24 season, Sai Witt also became the first Governor to earn ASUN Sixth Man of the Year honors, while Dezi Jones joined Sharp as an ASUN Championship All-Tournament selection. Gipson’s first win as the Governors’ head coach also was the first by either basketball team in the new, state-of-the-art F&M Bank Arena, and came in a 90-72 win against Life, Nov. 6, 2023, which was led by 2002 APSU graduate, Kevin Easley. He later earned his ASUN win following an 84-68 victory at Bellarmine, Jan. 4, 2024. Gipson later led the Governors to their first ASUN Basketball Tournament appearance and became just the fourth head coach to win his postseason debut following a 101-98 overtime victory against North Florida at F&M Bank Arena. The Governors advanced to their first ASUN Championship game – and the 18th championship-game appearance in program history – following a 77-71 victory in the semifinals against North Alabama at F&M Bank Arena. Following its appearance in the title match, the Governors earned a bid to the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament, which marked the 20th postseason appearance for the program and the first since appearing in the same tournament during the 2018 season.
NORTHWESTERN STATE (2022-23)
2022-23: Gipson was the head coach at Northwestern State during the 2022-23 season. In his head coaching debut, Gipson turned around a Demons program that won nine games the year prior his arrival. He led the Demons to a 22-9 record, a win at then-No. 15 TCU, and a No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament. In his lone year at Northwestern State, Gipson is a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top Division I minority coach. He also is a finalist for the Hugh Durham Coach of the Year Award, which is annually given to the top DI mid-major head coach, and the Joe B. Hall Award, which is annually presented to the top first-time head coach at the DI level. Gipson led the Demons to their first 20-win season in a decade and became the first coach in program history to win 20 games during their debut season. Gipson's 64-63 win at TCU, Nov. 14, also was the program's first win against an Associated Press Top 25 team since the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Gipson's squad made its mark on the defensive end during the 2022-23 season, leading the Southland in scoring defense (72.1 ppg). The Demons ranked 37th in the NCAA in steals per game (8.3) and turnovers forced per game (14.8) – ranking fourth in the Southland in both categories. Northwestern State also took care of the basketball better than any team in the Southland, leading the league in fewest turnovers per game (11.9) while ranking second in the conference and 34th in Division I in turnover margin (+2.9). Gipson also helped Northwestern State senior guard DeMarcus Sharp earn 2023 Southland Conference Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and First Team All-Conference honors during his time in Natchitoches. Sharp also is a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, which is annually given to the top Division I mid-major basketball player. Sharp averaged 19.5 points per game during the 2022-23 season, which led the Southland and ranked 35 in the NCAA. Sharp also ranked 31st in the NCAA in assists (165), 41st in assists per game (5.0), and 31st in steals (64) – he ranked second in Southland in all three categories. Under Gipson, Ja'Monta Black also earned Second Team All-Southland Conference recognition and proved to be one of the nation's top three-point shooters. During the 2022-23 season, Black ranked fourth in the NCAA in three-pointers per game (3.81), fourth in total threes made (122), and third in three-pointers attempted (326) – he led the Southland in all three categories.
MISSOURI STATE (2015-22)
2021-22: In his final season on Missouri State’s coaching staff, the Bears went 23-11 with a 13-5 record in Missouri Valley Conference play to finish tied for second in the league and earn a No. 3 seed in the MVC Tournament. The Bears advanced to the semifinals of Arch Madness, before falling to No. 2 Drake in overtime. MSU then earned a bid to the NIT, but fell to top-seeded Oklahoma in the first round of the tournament, 89-72. Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim were both named First Team All-MVC selections. Throughout his time at Missouri State, Gipson coached three MVC Newcomers of the Year – Dequon Miller, Alize Johnson, and Tulio Da Silva – to go along with 10 All-MVC selections, seven MVC All-Newcomer Team selections, three MCV All-Freshman Team selections, four MVC All-Defensive Team selections, two MVC All-Bench Team selections, two MVC Most-Improved Team selections, and three MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selections.
2020-21: Missouri State went 17-7 with a 12-6 record in MVC play during the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season, finishing third in the league standings. The Bears advanced to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament before falling to No. 2 Drake, 71-69. Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim were both named First Team All-MVC, with Prim also earning All-Defensive Team honors. DeMarcus Sharp – who would later come to both Northwestern State and Austin Peay with Gipson – began his collegiate career with MVC All-Newcomer Team recognition.
2019-20: The Bears went 16-17 with a 9-9 record in Missouri Valley Conference play to finish tied for sixth in the league. MSU defeated Indiana State in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinals, before falling to Valparaiso in the semifinal round. Keandre Cook earned Second Team All-MVC honors after leading the team in scoring, three-pointers, minutes, field goals, and free throws, while Gaige Prim was a Third Team All-MVC and All-Newcomer Team selection.
2018-19: With Paul Lusk leaving Missouri State to take an assistant coaching position at Creighton, former Tennessee State head coach Dana Ford took the Bears’ head coaching position and kept Gipson on staff as associate head coach. Missouri State went 16-16 overall with a 10-8 record in MVC play to finish tied for third in the league and enter Arch Madness as the No. 4 seed, where they fell to Bradley in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinals. Tulio Da Silva was tabbed a First Team All-MVC slecetion, in addition to being tabbed the league’s Newcomer of the Year and an All-Newcomer Team selection. Keandre Cook earned Third Team All-MVC honors, while both he and Josh Webster were named to the MVC All-Newcomer Team as well.
2017-18: Missouri State went 18-15 with a 7-11 record in MVC action. The Bears defeated Valparaiso in the opening round of the MVC Tournament, before falling to the No. 2 seed, Southern Illinois in the quarterfinals.
2016-17: Gipson was promoted to associate head coach prior to his second season in Springfield, Missouri. That year, the Bears went 17-16 with a 7-11 mark in MVC play to enter the MVC Tournament as the No. 6 seed. After defeating No. 3 Northern Iowa in the MVC Quarterfinals, the Bears’ run ended in the tournament’s semifinals following a loss to nationally-ranked Wichita State, who would go on to win the MVC and advance to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament that year.
2015-16: MSU head coach Paul Lusk named Gipson to his coaching staff ahead of the 2015-16 season. The Bears went 13-19 with an 8-10 record in MVC play during Gipson’s first season in Springfield, Missouri, and fell to Evansville in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinals.
AUSTIN PEAY (2012-15)
2014-15: Austin Peay won eight games in Gipson’s final season as an assistant coach under Dave Loos. Future Austin Peay Hall of Famer Chris Horton led the team as a junior with 13.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game – making him just the Governor since Tommy Brown (1990-91) to average double-digit rebounds and a double-double per game. Horton also rose to second-all-time in the record books with 262, a record he would later break following a 63-block senior season the following year. Horton would highlight the Governors’ 2014-15 season by recording just the second triple-double in program history at that point with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and a program-record 10-block performance.
2013-14: The Governors won 12 games in Gipson’s second season on the sideline at Austin Peay with six wins in OVC play. Chris Horton posted the second-most blocks in a single season in program history with 92 – trailing only his 100 the season prior – while Demarius Smith’s 139 assists were the 10th-most by a Gov.
2012-13: Gipson returned to Clarksville and joined Dave Loos’ coaching staff prior to the 2012-13 season. That year, the Governors won eight games, with four victories coming in OVC action. Chris Horton was named the OVC Freshman of the Year – the fourth in program history and first since Joe Sibbitt following the 1995-96 season – while posting a still-program record 100 blocks, which also made him the first OVC player with 100 blocks in a season since 1997.
UNC GREENSBORO (2009-12)
2011-12: Gipson spent three seasons on Mike Dement’s staff at UNC Greensboro, including the final two as the Spartans’ associate head coach. During his final season in Greensboro, North Carolina, UNCG went 13-19 with a 10-8 record in SoCon play, and advanced to the SoCon Semifinals as the North Division’s top seed.
2010-11: In his first season as the Spartan’s associate head coach, and second year on staff, UNCG won seven games, with four in SoCon play and defeated Davidsion in the opening round of the SoCon Championship before eventually falling to top-seeded Western Carolina.
2009-10: UNCG went 8-23 with a 6-12 record in SoCon play during Gipson’s first season in Greensboro, North Carolina. They defeated Furman in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament, but fell to Wofford in the quarterfinals.
VIRGINIA STATE (2005-09)
2005-09: Gipson’s first coaching position was at DII Virginia State, where he worked alongside longtime Austin Peay assistant coach, Tony Collins, who recruited Gipson to Austin Peay as a student-athlete.
PLAYING CAREER (2000-04)
As a player at Austin Peay, Gipson was a two-year starter at point guard, helping the Govs become the top defensive team in the OVC in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The Govs went 45-18 in his two seasons and Gipson never lost a game in the Winfield Dunn Center, with the Govs going 27-0 at home during his time in Clarksville. In his first game at Austin Peay, Gipson scored a team-high 19 points and led the Governors to an upset win at Memphis, beating the Tigers, 81-80, in overtime at the Memphis Pyramid. The Govs went 23-8 in Gipson's first season, winning the 2003 OVC Regular-Season and Tournament Championships before falling to Louisville, 86-64, in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. The following season, Gipson and the Govs repeated as OVC Regular Season Champions but fell to Murray State in the OVC Tournament Championship. Austin Peay earned a spot in the 2004 NIT, where it beat Belmont, 65-59, in the Dunn Center before falling to George Mason – a team that was two years removed from a run to the Final Four. Gipson averaged 7.7 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game during his Austin Peay career while knocking down 94 three-pointers and shooting 34.1 percent from three-point range. Gipson began his collegiate career at Three Rivers Community College, where he earned an associate's degree before transferring to Austin Peay. During his prep career at Richland High School, Gipson was a Missouri Mr. Basketball nominee during his senior season, where he averaged 30.9 points per game and earned all-state honors that season.
