Barry University Athletics

Former Barry University All-American Thomas Hipp returned to take the helm of the Buccaneer men's tennis program, the five-time NCAA Division II national champions, in the fall of 2021

In his first season at the wheel of the Bucs' program, Hipp led the team to another NCAA Divsion II National Championship, their sixth overall and third in a row. The Bucs tied for the Sunshine State Conference regular season title and won the conference tournament for the 17th time, including the 12th in the last 14 seasons. Hipp was accorded the conference Coach of the Year, while putting four singles players and a doubles team on the All-SSC team. Alejandro Ibañez Gallego, Alessandro Giuliato and Alejandro Palacios earned ITA singles All-America, while the doubles team of Ignasi Forcano and Martine Gutierrez combined for the award for the second straight year. Ibañez Gallego and Tim Büttner earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors with seven teammates joining them on the ITA Scholar list.

Hipp served seven seasons as the director of tennis at Flagler College, 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.