By By Robbie Robertson/The Meridian Star
Dec. 12, 2000
LIVINGSTON, Ala. The Meridian Star has learned that Middle Georgia College's Randy Pippin will be the next head football coach at the University of West Alabama.
According to television reports and an unnamed source close to the university, Pippin will be named the school's next coach at a press conference today at 3 p.m.
Pippin will try to revive a UWA program that hasn't had a winning season since 1992 and only three since 1985. Former coach Bobby Johns retired after three years, opting to join his wife who became the head softball coach at the University of Florida.
Pippin brings a long line of success with him to UWA. This past season, Middle Georgia finished with a 10-1 record and ranked No. 5 in the final NJCAA football poll. He has a 26-8 record in his three years at Middle Georgia.
Pippin went to Middle Georgia from Tennessee Tech, where he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons. Before working at Tennessee Tech, Pippen was head coach at Trinity Valley Community College from 1993-95 where he compiled a 25-7-1 record. Included in that was a NJCAA National Championship with a perfect 12-0 record in 1994. He was named National and Texas Junior College Coach of the year in 1994.
He was an Honorable-Mention All-American tailback at Cicso (TX) Junior College in 1981 and 1982, before serving as team captain and starting tailback at Tennessee Tech in 1983 and 1984. Pippin has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Tennessee Tech University in health and Physical Education.
Pippen has helped turned Middle Georgia into one of the nation's power schools, despite the fact that the Warriors have only been playing football for the past seven seasons. The program was revived in 1994.
Pippin interviewed for the Valdosta State job last year as well but decided to stay at Middle Georgia, citing his love for the junior college game.
Robbie Robertson is sports editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rrobertson@meridianstar.com.