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.[6]
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 is now in his third season 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.[7]
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