Now 43, Hipsher knew the MAC from personal experience. A former all-academic forward at Bowling Green, graduating in 1977, and a graduate assistant coach at Miami (O.) in 1977-78, he understood all too well the climb facing his Akron Zips.
He understood the great tradition of the MAC. He knew the league's talent level approached many of the so-called elite conferences. He expected it to be extremely tough to win on the road. He also knew he was starting from scratch when he moved into his James A. Rhodes Arena office in the spring of 1995.
Consequently, that the Zips have struggled those first two seasons was anticipated. But Hipsher certainly could see his team getting closer as the 1996-97 season progressed. UA lost 11 games by 43 points last winter, and before too long this young bunch was going to start winning the close ones. And Hipsher knows that too. The Sporting News picked Akron as "the MAC's ascending program." It's no secret where this team is headed -- up the ladder -- and not just one rung either.
"Dan is an outstanding motivator who can get kids to play to their potential," says Utah head man Rick Majerus.
Last season, Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal wrote: "Hipsher has grabbed his young team by the scruff of the neck and made it competitive in the Mid-American Conference."
Pete Gillen, formerly at Xavier and now the court boss at Providence College says, "Dan is a tremendous coach and a class person."
The feeling is unanimous. Dan Hipsher was and is the right man for the job at The University of Akron. UA president Marion A. Ruebel and Director of Athletics Mike Bobinski certainly knew that last February when they extended Hipsher's contract to 2002.
And certainly "The General" -- Indiana's Bob Knight -- knew it to be so when he recommended Hipsher to Bobinski, after Stetson posted a 15-12 mark in 1994-95, earning Hipsher Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) Coach of the Year notice.
Two career stops in Florida -- Stetson for two seasons in 1994 and '95 and Miami-Dade Community College in 1979 and '80 -- might only disguise a playing and coaching background that is Ohio through and through.
Born in Lancaster, Ohio, Hipsher was raised in Fostoria, one hour southeast of Toledo. A first-team All-Ohio cager at Fostoria Senior High School, Hipsher continued his academic and athletic career at nearby Bowling Green State University.
A brilliant chemistry and biology student, he twice was named to the Academic All-MAC basketball team and lettered two years as a pitcher on the BG baseball squad.
Hipsher figured he'd coach for a couple of years before heading off to medical school. He decided to stay in the MAC and served as a graduate assistant coach to Darrell Hedric at Miami. That year, the Redskins won the MAC title and beat defending national champion Marquette, 84-81, in overtime in Indianapolis in the 1978 NCAA tourney first round.
After a two-year apprenticeship at Miami-Dade South, Hipsher returned to Ohio as an assistant to Don Donoher at Dayton. In nine seasons, he helped Donoher and the Flyers to a 152-114 mark, two NCAA Tournament trips, and three NIT bids.
In 1989, Hipsher followed current Ohio head coach Larry Hunter as head coach at Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, just a few miles from Dayton. That Hunter had established Wittenberg as an NCAA Division III dynasty (305-76 in 13 years) did not faze Hipsher; he only added to the Tigers' enviable record.
In four seasons, his teams compiled an amazing 97-18 record and won the North Coast Athletic Conference crown each year. The Tigers also captured two NCAC Tournament titles and advanced to NCAA tourney play three times. Hipsher's first Wittenberg squad posted a 29-2 slate and earned him NCAC and Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year honors. His '91-92 team led the nation in defensive scoring average at 56.9 points per outing. And he certainly did not leave the cupboard bare when he left Springfield. Wittenberg placed third in the 1994 Division III national playoff.
Hipsher could not resist a Division I head-coaching opportunity and the warm Florida climate when Stetson asked him to revive its program in 1993. Within 11 months, he had the Hatters on the brink of their first NCAA Division I Tourament appearance, falling 70-67 to Central Florida in the TAAC Tournament championship game. The next season, Stetson registered a best-ever 11-5 mark in TAAC play and logged the school's first winning season in six years at 15-12.
Now regarded as a "program builder," Hipsher accepted the greatest challenge of his coaching career on March 29, 1995. He was asked to turn the fortunes of Zips basketball which had skidded to 24-54 in the three seasons prior to his arrival.
Hipsher is the MAC representative on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I Congress, having replaced Eastern Michigan's Ben Braun, who left for Cal-Berkeley. Last May, he served as a court coach for USA Basketball in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was asked to speak at the 1997 Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Clinic. Hipsher and his wife, Sue (also a 1977 Bowling Green State graduate) have two sons, Andy (17) and Bryan (15).
DAN HIPSHER'S COACHING RECORD:
Year Institution Position Record Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1977-78 Miami (O.) Grad. Asst. 19-9 NCAA(2nd round) 1978-79 Miami-Dade South Asst. Coach 14-11 1979-80 Miami-Dade South Asst. Coach 18-10 1980-81 Dayton Asst. Coach 18-11 NIT (2nd round) 1981-82 Dayton Asst. Coach 21-9 NIT (2nd round) 1982-83 Dayton Asst. Coach 18-10 1983-84 Dayton Asst. Coach 21-11 NCAA (2nd round) 1984-85 Dayton Asst. Coach 19-10 NCAA 1985-86 Dayton Asst. Coach 17-13 NIT 1986-87 Dayton Asst. Coach 13-15 1987-88 Dayton Asst. Coach 13-18 1988-89 Dayton Asst. Coach 12-17 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dayton Totals (9 years) 152-114 (.571) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1989-90 Wittenberg Head Coach 29-2 NCAA (Sectionals) 1990-91 Wittenberg Head Coach 26-3 NCAA (2nd round) 1991-92 Wittenberg Head Coach 23-6 NCAA 1992-93 Wittenberg Head Coach 19-7 NCAC Champs ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wittenberg Totals (4 years) 97-18 (.843) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993-94 Stetson Head Coach 14-15 TAAC title game 1994-95 Stetson Head Coach 15-12 TAAC Coach of Yr. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stetson Totals (2 years) 29-27 (.518) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1995-96 Akron Head Coach 3-23 1996-97 Akron Head Coach 8-18 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Akron Totals (2 years) 11-41 (.212) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head Coaching Career Total (8 years) 137-86 (.614)
Burns received his bachelor's degree in business administration and gained second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors in hoops.
During his four seasons at Wittenberg, Burns helped the Tigers to a 93-23 record. Wittenberg won three North Coast Athletic Conference titles during his four years. In 1994, Burns' junior year, Wittenberg finished third in the NCAA Division III national championship. Burns played for Hipsher at Wittenberg during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Hipsher moved to Stetson University for the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
Burns is involved in on-campus recruiting, on-the-floor coaching, summer basketball camps, practice planning and management as well as other coaching-related duties.
"John is an outstanding young man with a bright future in coaching," said Hipsher. "His playing experience, coupled with his passion for the game, are certainly assets. John was a hard-working player, especially on the defensive perimeter. That work ethic will serve him well. It is a pleasure to have John as a member of the Akron coaching staff."
Burns, 25, is a native of Springfield, Ohio, and played his prep basketball at North High School. He was recently engaged to former UA sports information graduate assistant Jody Gaines of Washington, D.C.
At The University of Akron, Donoher is involved in recruiting, on-the-floor coaching and scheduling, as well as other coaching-related duties.
The 28-year-old Donoher began his collegiate coaching career at Miami of Ohio in 1992-93. The Redskins forged a 22-9 record and advanced to the NIT's final eight.
Donoher played college ball for three seasons at Dayton under his father Don Donoher (1987-89) and Jim O'Brien (1989-90). He transferred to Wittenberg to play under Hipsher in 1990-91 and helped the Tigers to the North Coast Athletic Conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament.
"I have known Brian for a long time and he knows the direction we want to take the program at The University of Akron," said Hipsher. "Brian has played a major role in the successes I have experienced at Stetson and Wittenberg. I know he will help take the Akron program forward."
While working with the Dayton Wings of the World Basketball League, Donoher completed his studies at the University of Dayton and received his degree in business administration in 1992. The Wings were the WBL champions in 1991 and 1992.
Donoher was recently engaged to Joni O'Donnell of Dayton, Ohio. The couple is planning a wedding for next fall.
Pigatti has also coached on the collegiate level as an assistant at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., Western Michigan, Texas A&M, Creighton and Elmhurst (Ill.) College.
While at St. Joseph's, Pigatti served as the recruiting coordinator and recruited extensively for the programs at Western Michigan, Texas A&M, Creighton and Elmhurst College.
At The University of Akron, Pigatti is involved in recruiting, on-the-floor coaching and scheduling, as well as other coaching-related duties.
"John has successfully recruited in Ohio and all over the Midwest," said Hipsher. "He is extremely knowledgeable about the game and his experience in the MAC at Western Michigan is certainly an advantage."
Pigatti is a 1985 graduate of the University of Dayton where he earned his degree in business administration. Pigatti played golf for the Flyers. He earned an MBA from Creighton in 1993.
During his two seasons at Creighton, Pigatti helped the Blue Jays to the 1991 Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, as well as an appearance in the 1990 National Invitational Tournament. As the MVC's NCAA representative in 1991, Creighton advanced to the second round.
At Texas A&M and Creighton, Pigatti served under head coach Tony Barone. He also spent two seasons on the staff at Elmhurst College in Illinois. Pigatti began his coaching career at Kettering (O.) Alter High School under highly successful head coach Joe Petrocelli.
Last year, Pigatti was appointed as the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Assistant Coaches Committee.
Pigatti is married to the former Kim Bierema of Kalamazoo, Mich.