CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Austin Peay State University introduced new men’s basketball head coach Corey Gipson on Tuesday in the first official event at the new F&M Bank Arena, home of the Govs.
Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison announced Sunday that Gipson has been named APSU’s 14th men’s basketball head coach.
Gipson has a rich history with APSU, which includes being a two-time graduate. He also played at Austin Peay for two seasons (2002-04) and worked as an assistant coach for Dave Loos for three seasons (2012-15).
His latest coaching stint was spent as head coach at Northwestern State during the 2022-23 season. He had profound success during his one season with the team.
According to Austin Peay Athletics, 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, for the top DI mid-major head coach, and the Joe B. Hall Award, for the top first-time head coach at the DI level.
Gipson replaces Nate James, who was fired on March 5 after two seasons leading Govs basketball. James, formerly an assistant coach at Duke University, went 21-39 in his two seasons with the Govs. The Governors lost 13 of their last 14 games, finishing the season 9-22.
Harrison: ‘Committed to being a resident of Clarksville’
Harrison talked about what they were looking for in their next coach, and what led them to Gipson.
“I wanted someone who was successful and understands the true role of a student-athlete,” said Harrison. “Gritty, passionate and committed to all aspects of the Total Gov concept. Committed to the mission of Austin Peay State University, but also committed to being a resident of Clarksville.
“We had over 50 qualified coaches that displayed interest in the position, such as sitting head coaches, assistant coaches from power-five programs and former head coaches, but there was only one for us at this time. A Gov, a student-athlete, an alum, a graduate assistant, an adjunct professor and an assistant coach,” said Harrison.
“I didn’t know too much about Corey Gipson the man, so I wanted to go out and see him work in person. We got in a plane, went down to Houston, drove to Lake Charles and watched Northwestern State win their conference tournament. We sat back and watched his interactive with his student-athletes and community as they all celebrated their victory that day. The passion he had, the passion his team played with, the love he had for the community, all made him our leading target for our program.”
Harrison said Austin Peay Athletics brought Gipson back and the two sides came to terms on the head coaching position.
Gipson: ‘I’m still bleeding red’
Harrison welcomed Gipson to the podium, where he delivered an emotional, powerful speech.
“To move back in time, Coach Loos and his staff at the time took a chance on a young man from Three Rivers Community College who had broken his foot three times when others had given up on me,” Gipson said.
“That’s when my father told me that Austin Peay was a special place. It’s amazing how life works, it’s a dynamic process. It comes back full circle, and I see so many familiar faces that helped develop me as a young man. That’s what community is all about. When you get that as a student-athlete – I hope we have some student-athletes here today – when you have a community that rallies behind you, that’s when you lay it on the line for them. When you leave that hardwood, you leave it empty with nothing left in the tank.
“When this process came about, I was in the kitchen cutting something up, and I sliced my finger a little bit, and that’s when I realized I’m still bleeding red,” Gipson said.
“It wasn’t a hard decision, but it was a very difficult one. Because Northwestern State gave me an opportunity, they gave a Governor an opportunity, so we all need to pay homage to them. However, the way life works when you live in the spiritual realm, you have to follow God’s lead, and sometimes you have to reattach yourself to the roots that have fostered your development. That’s what this is about,” he said.
‘I’m not a miracle worker’
“The souls in this building are so beautiful,” said Gipson. “Everyone is aging so gracefully – give yourself a hand. But what I can tell you is that the energy is still the same. The passion is still the same, and that’s what makes this place so special. Now, I’m wondering what you are so excited about. I’m not a miracle worker; my staff is a good one, but we aren’t miracle workers.
“This team will have some great talent, but they need support. One thing about successful programs is the fact that the community is the propeller that moves it along. That’s why this place has been special for so many years, because there’s no place in the country that has a community like this that supports the athletics, academics, which can be the driving force of any infrastructure. We all have to come together on one accord, we all have to be on the same page, and we have to make sure to hold another accountable, so we put our best foot forward as we make this the best situation possible for the student-athletes that represent this beautiful institution.”
The crowd gave Gipson a standing ovation as a new era of Austin Peay men’s basketball is officially underway.