Captain Kangaroo Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 Heath names Hipsher as an assistant By NATE ALLEN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FAYETTEVILLE — For the second time, Dan Hipsher replaces the replacement as he becomes the new assistant coach on Stan Heath's Razorback staff. Hipsher, a former head coach at Wittenberg (Ohio) and Stetson (Fla.) and most recently the University of Akron, was named Friday by Heath to replace Bill Herrion. Herrion, also a former head coach, was hired April 18 to replace Rob Flaska, now the head coach at Centenary. By May 26, Herrion became the new head coach at New Hampshire. "Things like that just happen," Hipsher said in a joint Friday teleconference with Heath. "One of my first head coaching jobs another guy took the job and then bailed out and I got the job that way. And we were ultra-successful at Wittenberg with that." Last December Hipsher got detoured from an assistant coaching job at Southern California because a head coach bailed. Rick Majerus, the retired Utah coach hired last December to coach Southern California effective the 2005-06 season, hired Hipsher then decided to stay with ESPN as a basketball analyst. "In December I thought we were headed to Southern California," Hipsher said, "but I think we are in a little better basketball hotbed at Arkansas to be honest. The facility (Walton Arena) is unbelievable. The closest thing I've been involved with like that was at Dayton (as an assistant coach for 10 years) with 13,000 or 14,000 every night. But what Arkansas has, not many can rival that." Hipsher, 238-182 in 15 years as a head coach (97-18 in four years at Wittenberg, 29-27, two years at Stetson and 112-137, nine years at Akron before being reassigned in 2004 to Akron's office of public affairs and development) obviously has the head coaching experience Heath sought when he hired Herrion. Was Hipsher considered Heath hired Herrion? "Yeah," Heath acknowledged. "I brought Bill in right away (for an interview). It's kind of like recruiting. If you've got a really good player that comes to your campus and you've got a scholarship for him, you almost give him the scholarship so you don't lose him. So kind of the buck stopped with Bill, but Dan is certainly a guy I have a lot of respect for and considered. That was the decision I made at that time, but I think this is a great fit to have Dan come in and join our staff. I don't have any doubt in my mind he'll come in and complement our staff very well and have an effective impact with our players." Heath knows Hipsher's coaching firsthand. He coached Can't State for a year in the Mid-American Conference vs. Hipsher's Akron Zips. "We had more talent on that team than he did," Heath said. "Can't State went to the Elite Eight, but he gave us some scary games. I remember he almost blew Senior Night for us." Heath interviewed Hipsher last Sunday and Monday in Fayetteville. "He has a great basketball mind," Heath said. "He'll be able to help us offensively and defensively. I've been impressed with preparations and how his teams force other teams to play toward their weaknesses rather than their strengths." In Arkansas' press release, Heath also cited Hipsher's "tough-love mentality which our players will respond to (OH THEY'LL RESPOND ALRIGHT!) " and his expertise in "strong offensive techniques" and how he has "utilized zone defenses." During the teleconference, Heath said, "His teams have been good man to man wise and he's got a zone that gives people fits. As far as zone offense, we'll bounce some things around there. Our zone offense was fine until we hit a snag late in the season. Sometimes it was just more of a mental thing. But if we can do some things to help our team in that area, I know Dan will be a great asset for us." Since his immediate two predecessors left to be head coaches, Hipsher was asked about head coach aspirations. "I think we've all got a goal to run our program at some time," Hipsher said. "But I've got a goal to do the best job I can do for this university. I've never been a job hunter. I worked at Dayton 10 years and applied for two jobs. I look for things to fit me, and I think this is a great place for me to work at, I'm proud to be there." Hipsher said his batteries are "recharged" after being out of basketball. According to the UA's press release, Hipsher got a testimonial from Texas Tech coach Bob Knight, the former Indiana coach knowing Hipsher from his Dayton days. "He has developed," Knight is quoted, "a superb understanding of the game at both ends of the floor. He is an extremely good teacher as a practice coach and a very good tactician as a coach. Dan will be a tremendous addition to basketball at Arkansas." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zip37 Posted June 11, 2005 Report Share Posted June 11, 2005 That "tough love" aspect is the grabber--I'm quite sure the players in "hogland" will learn to hate him just as they dis in "Zipland". Personally I wish him nothing but losses. With ball ammunition lock and load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileLikeYouMeanIt Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Well I wish him nothing but the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 That "tough love" aspect is the grabber--I'm quite sure the players in "hogland" will learn to hate him just as they dis in "Zipland". Personally I wish him nothing but losses. Though I was glad to see him get fired, I hope he has learned from his experience and does well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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