SPORTS

Dickson County's Greg Tipps resigns for Loretto boys job

Tom Kreager

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Greg Tipps is heading back to a place he still refers to as home.

Loretto girls coach Greg Tipps directs his players in the second half of the Division 1 Class A girls basketball semifinal game against Jackson County at MTSU's Murphy Center. Tipps has resigned as Dickson County's girls coach to return to Loretto as the boys coach.

The second-year Dickson County girls basketball coach resigned on Thursday and accepted the boys basketball coaching position at Loretto.

Tipps, 43, coached the Loretto girls team from 2007-14. He led the Lady Mustangs to three Class A state tournaments, including two final four appearances.

"It feels like home," said Tipps, a Moore County alum. "I cut my teeth there for seven years."

Tipps led Dickson County to back-to-back Class AAA state tournaments in his two seasons as coach. The Lady Cougars reached the Class AAA state semifinals this past season.

Tipps has 286 wins in 15 years with coaching stints at Coffee County, Moore County, Loretto, Stone Memorial and Dickson County. However, this marks his first varsity boys coaching job.

"If you can coach, you can coach," Tipps said.

Tipps will also have an opportunity in two seasons to coach his son Brendon, who is currently a seventh grader.

"I never envisioned myself as a girls coach," Tipps said. "I am a basketball coach. I was just coaching girls.

"I wasn't going to leave for another girls job. But with Loretto, I have ties there. They were so good to me. I want an opportunity to win a state championship there and to coach my son."

Loretto finished 23-9 this past season, reaching the TSSAA Class A quarterfinals. Four starters return from the team.

Former Loretto coach Micah Rochester was fired during the season.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@tennessean.com and 615-259-8089 or on Twitter @Kreager.