John Pipkin

John Pipkin received an AA degree from Freed-Hardeman in 1968. He had played basketball and baseball under coaches Dick Stewart and Hoyt Kirk. He was the basketball team's MVP in 1968. Although he had first come to FHC on academic scholarship the second semester, he "walked on" in basketball and was granted an athletic scholarship the second semester.

Pipkin completed his undergraduate career at Union University where he played basketball and participated in track. In 1970 he was the VSAC high jump champion.

Beginning his coaching career n 1970 at Chester County High School, Pipkin has had a phenomenal success. Although he has coached football, volleyball, track and softball, he has seen his greatest achievements in girls' basketball. In his eleven years as CCHS's girls basketball coach, he posted 281-68 record and made seven trips to the state tournament.

Pipkin left CCHS in 1984 to spend five years at University School in Jackson. There he coached golf, baseball and boys' and girls' basketball. His girls' teams made it to t he semi-finals.

In sixteen years of coaching girls' basketball, he has amassed a 397-107 record and a host of awards. He has had six district champions, six runners-up, six regional champions and seven runners-up. He has been to the sub-state thirteen times and to the state nine times. In 1978, his team won the state championship and in 1977 and 1980 they were runner-up. On two other occasions, his team advanced to the state semi-finals.

He has been named district coach of the year in golf, baseball, boys' basketball and girls' basketball. In 1981 and 1982 he was the West Tennessee Officials' Coach of the Year. Twice he was Tennessee's nominee for National Coach of the Year in girl's basketball.

Pipkin and his wife Cheri, who has assisted him throughout his career, are once again coaching at Chester County High School. They have a son, Brandon.