After nine memorable seasons at the helm of Loretto's boys basketball program, Greg Tipps is trading the high school sidelines for the college ranks. The longtime coach has officially resigned to take the reins as the new women's basketball head coach at the University of Tennessee Southern, announced May 12.

Tipps leaves behind a legacy that reads like a highlight reel: two TSSAA state championships with the Mustangs and an eye-popping 493 career victories across stops at Coffee County, Dickson County, Moore County, Stone Memorial, and Loretto. That's the kind of resume that turns heads at the next level.

"I'm incredibly honored and excited to become the next head women's basketball coach at UT Southern," Tipps said in a statement. "This program has already established itself as one of the rising programs in the NAIA, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to build on that success. My family and I are excited to join the Firehawk community and get to work."

A proud Moore County alum, Tipps is no stranger to Loretto. He actually coached the girls program there from 2007 to 2014, leading them to two final four appearances, before returning in 2017 to take over the boys team. Under his guidance, the Mustangs made four state tournament appearances, cutting down nets for championships in 2018 and again in 2025.

That most recent title run was nothing short of historic. Loretto completed an undefeated season, becoming the first public school since Union City in 2008 to finish a campaign without a single blemish on the record. It's the kind of achievement that cements a coach's name in the state's basketball lore.

Now, Tipps steps into a program on the rise. UT Southern, still young at just four years old, finished the season ranked No. 24 in the final NAIA women's basketball Top 25 poll. He becomes the 11th head coach in the Firehawks' brief history, tasked with building on that momentum.

"Coach Tipps has been successful at every stop of his career, and we are excited to welcome him to the Firehawk family," said Brandie Paul, UT Southern's Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. "His ability to build winning programs and develop players is exactly what we need."

For a coach who's built his career on molding talent and chasing championships, the move to college basketball feels like the natural next step. And for fans of the game, it's a reminder that great coaching—and the gear that supports it—never stops evolving.