Men's Tennis | 7/8/2021 10:00:00 AM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Former Barry University All-American Thomas Hipp returns to take the helm of the Buccaneer men's tennis program, the five-time NCAA Division II national champions, director of athletics Michael L. Covone announced today. The Bucs have captured the last two national titles.
"For me, this means so much, because Barry is my alma mater," Hipp said. "Barry opened up the world to me and, for me to be able to come back and serve there, means the world to me. In addition to getting both of my degrees from Barry, I started my professional career at Barry as the assistant. That has led to the being a head coach, which is just a dream job for me.
"It's an honor to take over a national championship program from my mentor, Dr. George Samuel. He had faith in recruiting me, bringing to the U.S. to play and get my education. Now, to be able to step into his shoes, it is just a very great honor. With the all the success he has had, five national championship and an NCAA Division II record 12 appearances in the finals, I just hope that I can come in and keep the tradition going."
Hipp has served seven seasons as the director of tennis at Flagler University, coaching the men's team since 2014 and also heading the women's program in 2015 and 2016. Overall, he has compiled a 123-103 record, including 88-85 at the helm of the men. Since 2017, his record is 65-40, advancing to the NCAA Regional three times and being ranked in the Top-10 of the ITA National Poll.
Prior to Flagler, he spent 11 years in The Shores, helping Dr. George Samuel build the Buccaneers into a national championship program. He enjoyed a stellar playing career from 2003-06, as the men's tennis graduate assistant from 2006-11 and as the first full-time assistant in 2011-13.
Hipp, a three-time ITA All-American in both singles and doubles, remains the Bucs' all-time leader in singles wins with 67 and ranks fourth with 78 doubles wins. He collected All-Sunshine State Conference first-team singles recognition four times and was a three-time first-team doubles honoree. In 2006, Hipp was named SSC Men's Tennis Player of the Year, having won Freshman of the Year accolades in his debut season in 2003. He led Barry to SSC tournament titles in 2003 and 2005. He earned ITA Southeast Region Senior Player of the Year in 2006. He was an ITA National Doubles Champion in 2005 and won the ITA Regional Doubles Championship in both 2004 and 2005.
Hipp's academic performance was every bit as impressive as his work on the tennis court. He was a four-time member of the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll and ITA Scholar All-American list. He was a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection in 2005 and 2006. Hipp was named SSC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2004-05 and SSC Male Athlete of the Year in 2005-06.
The only male student-athlete in conference history to earn both awards, he was inducted in the conference's hall of fame in 2012. He went on Barry's Wall of Honor in 2016.
He earned his bachelor's degree in sport management in 2006 and MBA and master's of sport management & marketing in 2010.
Hipp takes over a men's tennis team fresh off an undefeated national championship season, with the bulk of the team expected back as they look for a third straight NCAA championship.
ABOUT BARRYU MEN'S TENNIS
Barry has been one of the top teams in NCAA Division II over the last 30+ years. The Bucs have advanced to the NCAA Tournament 26 times, including making the finals site 23 times. They hold the NCAA Division II record for championship match appearances with 12, winning five times. They have crowned 58 ITA All-Americans and 83 Scholar and Academic All-Americans. The Bucs have won a Sunshine State Conference record five regular season titles and added 16 tournament championships, powered by 96 All-SSC singles players including SSC Players of the Year Herbert Bende (1997), Chris Meyer and Christian Witt (2000, co-PoY), Sebastian Losavio (2005), Thomas Hipp (2006), Marco Mokrzycki (2013), Ahmed Triki (2014, 2015, 2017) and Alessandro Giuliato (2021).
