Dave Fipp
{{Short description|American football coach (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dave Fipp
| image =
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| caption = Fipp with the Lions in 2021
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| position = Special teams coordinator
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|8|8|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school = La Jolla (CA)
| college = Arizona
| pastcoaching =
- Holy Cross (1998–1999)
Special teams coordinator & secondary coach - Arizona (2000)
Graduate assistant - Cal Poly (2001)
Secondary coach - Cal Poly (2002–2003)
Defensive coordinator - Nevada (2004)
Co-defensive coordinator - San Jose State (2005–2006)
Co-defensive coordinator & safeties coach - San Jose State (2007)
Defensive coordinator - San Francisco 49ers ({{nfly|2008}}–{{nfly|2010}})
Assistant special teams coach - Miami Dolphins ({{nfly|2011}}–{{nfly|2012}})
Assistant special teams coach - Philadelphia Eagles ({{nfly|2013}}–{{nfly|2020}})
Special teams coordinator - Detroit Lions ({{nfly|2021}}–present)
Special teams coordinator
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Dave Fipp (born August 8, 1974){{cite web |url=http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |title=San Francisco 49ers: Dave Fipp |website=www.49ers.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807042030/http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |archive-date=August 7, 2009}} is an American football coach who is the special teams coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).
Early years
Fipp attended La Jolla High School, in La Jolla, California, and graduated in 1993. In addition to playing football for the La Jolla High School Vikings, Fipp was a ranked pole vaulter in the state of California and at one time held La Jolla's record with a mark of 15’5”.{{Cite web |url=http://ljstarchamber.com/Gallery%20of%20stars/David%20Fipp/david_fipp.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 7, 2011 |archive-date=August 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820050428/http://ljstarchamber.com/Gallery%20of%20stars/David%20Fipp/david_fipp.htm |url-status=live }}
College career
A 1997 graduate from the University of Arizona, Fipp played for the Arizona Wildcats football team under head coach Dick Tomey from 1994 to 1997. As a walk-on, Fipp led Arizona's special teams unit in tackles as a sophomore in 1995. He received a scholarship prior to the 1996 season and was the Wildcats’ starting free safety in 1996 and 1997. The 1997 Wildcats were among the top defensive units in the Pacific-10 Conference and ranked 12th nationally in rushing defense. He graduated from Arizona with a bachelor's degree in family studies in 1997.{{cite web |url=http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |title=San Francisco 49ers: Dave Fipp |website=www.49ers.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807042030/http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |archive-date=August 7, 2009}}{{Cite web|url=http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/90/21/15_2_m.html|title=Walk-on Fipp 'likes idea of being an unknown'|access-date=January 7, 2011|archive-date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929002052/http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/90/21/15_2_m.html|url-status=live}}
Coaching career
Fipp began his coaching career at Holy Cross as a secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1998. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Arizona, for the 2000 season as a graduate assistant and coached the safeties. When former Arizona defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson took the head coaching position at Cal Poly in 2001, he brought Fipp with him as his secondary coach. Fipp was promoted to defensive coordinator for the following two seasons before he left to take the same role at University of Nevada. Fipp spent the 2004 season at Nevada working for Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. The Wolf Pack's pass defense was 21st nationally and third in the Western Athletic Conference in yardage allowed.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjsuspartans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5600&ATCLID=202744 |title=Dave Fipp - SJSUSpartans.com - Official Web Site of San Jose State Athletics |access-date=January 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928023037/http://www.sjsuspartans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5600&ATCLID=202744 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Fipp left Nevada for San Jose State as one of Dick Tomey's first hires after Tomey was named head coach in December 2004. In 2005 and 2006, Fipp was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach before being named the defensive coordinator for the 2007 season. During his three seasons working with the Spartans’ defense, San Jose State yielded an average of 27.2 points a game including just 20.8 points a contest in 2006, the fewest given up by the program in 16 years. San Jose State's defense allowed 37.8 points a game in the three seasons prior to Fipp's arrival. In 2006, the Spartans kept five teams scoreless in the second half as San Jose State went on a 9-4 win–loss record and the 2006 New Mexico Bowl title.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjsuspartans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5600&ATCLID=1441119 |title=San Francisco 49ers Hire Dave Fipp - SJSUSpartans.com - Official Web Site of San Jose State Athletics |access-date=January 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310164101/http://www.sjsuspartans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5600&ATCLID=1441119 |archive-date=March 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
One of the youngest defensive coordinators in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision, Fipp accumulated six seasons as a defensive or co-defensive coordinator at NCAA programs before leaving to coach in the NFL prior to the 2008 season.
Fipp spent three years with the San Francisco 49ers as assistant special teams coach. The 49ers credit Fipp as playing a critical role in the team's excellent special teams play. In 2009, Punter Andy Lee earned his second Pro Bowl selection after ranking 2nd in the NFL in gross punting average (47.6) and net punting average (41.0). Running Back Michael Robinson was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a specialist for his work in all phases of special teams, marking the second consecutive season he had earned the recognition. Kicker Joe Nedney continued his successful career with Fipp's guidance, finishing the 2009 season ranked 38th on the NFL's all-time scoring list with 1,063 points.{{cite web |url=http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |title=San Francisco 49ers: Dave Fipp |website=www.49ers.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807042030/http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |archive-date=August 7, 2009}}
In January 2011 Fipp joined the Miami Dolphins staff as assistant special teams coach.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-announce-changes-coaching-staff |title=Dolphins Announce Changes to Coaching Staff | Miami Dolphins |access-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129022406/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-announce-changes-coaching-staff |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }} According to rankings compiled annually by The Dallas Morning News, the Dolphins finished the 2011 season ranked 2nd for overall special teams performance. Ranked 24th in 2010, the Dolphins 2011 second-place ranking represents the greatest year-to-year improvement of any team in the league.{{cite web| url = http://www.dallasnews.com/newsletters/nfl/20120123-gosselin-49ers-patriots-prove-what-a-focus-on-special-teams-can-do2.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120205072338/http://www.dallasnews.com/newsletters/nfl/20120123-gosselin-49ers-patriots-prove-what-a-focus-on-special-teams-can-do2.ece| archive-date = February 5, 2012| title = Gosselin: 49ers, Patriots prove what a focus on special teams can do - Dallas News, Sports, Weather and Traffic from The Dallas Morning News}} The Dolphins finished 4th in the 2012 rankings, making them the only team to finish in the top five over the past two years.{{cite web| url = http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/rick-gosselin/20130120-nfl-special-teams-analysis-how-cowboys-flunked-in-one-key-area.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130122210432/http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/rick-gosselin/20130120-nfl-special-teams-analysis-how-cowboys-flunked-in-one-key-area.ece| archive-date = January 22, 2013| title = NFL special teams analysis: How Cowboys flunked in one key area {{!}} Rick Gosselin Sports Columns - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW}}
In January 2013, Fipp was hired by Chip Kelly as the Philadelphia Eagles special teams coordinator, replacing Bobby April.{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Omar|title=Dolphins assistant Dave Fipp leaves to join Eagles staff|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-23/sports/sfl-dolphins-assistant-dave-fipp-leaves-to-join-eagles-staff-20130123_1_darren-rizzi-special-teams-dave-fipp|access-date=January 25, 2013|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|date=January 23, 2013|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|archive-date=July 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702152338/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-23/sports/sfl-dolphins-assistant-dave-fipp-leaves-to-join-eagles-staff-20130123_1_darren-rizzi-special-teams-dave-fipp|url-status=dead}} Since taking over in 2013, the Eagles’ special teams units have accounted for 12 touchdowns, leading the NFL in the past six seasons. During this period, Fipp's special teams units were also first in blocked punts for touchdowns (4) and first in total kicks and or punts blocked (4) while finishing second in committing the fewest special teams penalties, second in number of punts blocked (7) and second in total number of blocked kicks including punts, field goal and extra point attempts (16). In this same period, Fipp's units finished third in total number of punts returned for touchdowns (4), kickoff returns for touchdowns (4) and total returns for touchdowns (8).{{Cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches-roster/dave-fipp?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=Dave Fipp|website=www.philadelphiaeagles.com|language=en-US|access-date=August 1, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In his second year with the Eagles, Fipp's unit was recognized by the Dallas Morning News' annual rankings as the top special teams in the league.{{cite web| url = http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150123-chip-kelly-s-commitment-helps-eagles-soar-to-first-in-sportsday-s-annual-nfl-special-teams-rankings.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150126050348/http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150123-chip-kelly-s-commitment-helps-eagles-soar-to-first-in-sportsday-s-annual-nfl-special-teams-rankings.ece| archive-date = January 26, 2015| title = Chip Kelly's commitment helps Eagles soar to first in SportsDay's annual NFL special teams rankings {{!}} Dallas Morning News}} The 2014 unit accounted for a franchise-best and NFL-leading seven touchdowns (three blocked punt returns, two kickoff returns and two punt returns) and a league-best six blocked kicks.{{cite web |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/2945f64d-95d4-40c3-bf7d-138cc6e0d432 |title=Philadelphia Eagles: Dave Fipp |website=www.philadelphiaeagles.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224025619/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/2945f64d-95d4-40c3-bf7d-138cc6e0d432 |archive-date=February 24, 2013}} The Eagles special teams unit again finished in the top five following the 2015 season, ranked fifth according to the Dallas Morning News' annual rankings.{{cite web| url = http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2016/01/17/rick-gosselins-nfl-special-teams-rankings-2015-surprisingly-cowboys-lost-dwayne-harris-best-player-improved| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160119013756/http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2016/01/17/rick-gosselins-nfl-special-teams-rankings-2015-surprisingly-cowboys-lost-dwayne-harris-best-player-improved| archive-date = January 19, 2016| title = Dallas Cowboys: Rick Gosselin's NFL special teams rankings, 2015: Cowboys lost Dwayne Harris, their best player, and improved {{!}} SportsDay}} During the 2016 season, Fipp's special team's unit set an Eagles' franchise record in the return game with a 27.314 kickoff return average, ranking second in the NFL. They led the league with 5 kickoff returns of greater than 50 yards, and were the only team to score multiple touchdowns on kickoff returns with two. The Eagles also finished second in the NFL in punt return average with 12.9.{{Cite news|url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/2945f64d-95d4-40c3-bf7d-138cc6e0d432|title=Philadelphia Eagles: Dave Fipp|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224025619/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/2945f64d-95d4-40c3-bf7d-138cc6e0d432|url-status=dead}} Following the 2016 season, Fipp's group was again rated the top special teams unit in the NFL by the Dallas Morning News' annual rankings, finishing first in two of the past three seasons.{{Cite news|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/02/15/rick-gosselins-2016-nfl-special-teams-rankings-see-high-cowboys-jumped-nfc-east-teams-1-league|title=Rick Gosselin's 2016 NFL special teams rankings: See how high Cowboys jumped, which NFC East team's No. 1 in the league|date=February 15, 2017|work=SportsDay|access-date=January 10, 2018|language=en|archive-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111110231/http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/02/15/rick-gosselins-2016-nfl-special-teams-rankings-see-high-cowboys-jumped-nfc-east-teams-1-league|url-status=dead}} Fipp won his first Super Bowl ring when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots - February 4th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201802040nwe.htm |access-date=February 20, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301125909/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201802040nwe.htm |url-status=live }}
In 2021, Fipp was hired to the role of special teams coordinator with the Detroit Lions.{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/lionspr/status/1354223513842888709?s=46&t=VpW0FlBEa42yzFuG1bDwxA|title=Detroit Lions on Twitter|access-date=January 26, 2021|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207001104/https://twitter.com/lionspr/status/1354223513842888709?s=46&t=VpW0FlBEa42yzFuG1bDwxA|url-status=live}} In his first two years with the team, the Lions ranked #7 and #6 in Rick Gosselin's special teams rankings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/1/21/23565096/detroit-lions-special-teams-rankings-rick-gosselin-2022-rankings-dave-fipp-jack-fox|title=Detroit Lions special teams unit ranked among NFL's best... again|access-date=February 6, 2022|archive-date=January 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121140249/https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/1/21/23565096/detroit-lions-special-teams-rankings-rick-gosselin-2022-rankings-dave-fipp-jack-fox|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Fipp lives in Birmingham, Michigan, with his wife, Jenny, and their three children: daughters Ashlee and Lilly and son Tyler.{{cite web |url=http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |title=San Francisco 49ers: Dave Fipp |website=www.49ers.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807042030/http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches/dave-fipp/8dfdb9e4-fda4-469d-b3ef-92f7d2c258d7 |archive-date=August 7, 2009}}
References
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{{NFL special teams coordinator navbox}}
{{Super Bowl LII}}
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Category:Players of American football from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Arizona Wildcats football players
Category:Coaches of American football from New Mexico
Category:Holy Cross Crusaders football coaches
Category:Arizona Wildcats football coaches
Category:Cal Poly Mustangs football coaches
Category:Nevada Wolf Pack football coaches
Category:San Jose State Spartans football coaches
Category:San Francisco 49ers coaches
Category:Miami Dolphins coaches
Category:Philadelphia Eagles coaches