EDWARD E. HIPPERT JR. '62

Basketball

One of the outstanding defensive and clutch offensive players for Hall of Fame Coach Andy Laska H'69, ED HIPPERT has been a recognized name in Central New England for over 40 years . . . first as an all-scholastic at St. John's High (Worcester, MA), then as an all-America performer at the College, and finally in a coaching career that has spanned 25 years and 48 different seasons in four sports (basketball, baseball, football, tennis).

Hippert led his teams to a combined 53-21 overall record (.716) and an N.C.A.A. regional tournament berth . . . the first of 21 bids the team would receive over the next 31 years. He was a teammate of Hall of Famers Felix (Buddy) Masterson '60, Frederic E. Barakat '61, Stephen M. Warner '64, and John L. Jenkins '64.

He was named a United Press International all-New England performer as a senior en route to his being named an all-America by The Pilot. He was also Most Valuable Player of the Springfield College Invitational and captained the team as a senior (1961-62).

Statistically, he scored 646 points, averaging 10 points (on teams that averaged under 50 ppg), while shooting .501 from the floor (232-for-463). He also, unofficially, holds the record for most years played in the Worcester Park's Summer League, having participated for 17 seasons with various teams.

After graduation he spent 20 years as a teacher/coach at Leicester, MA High School. His basketball teams earned seven playoff berths in eight years, won five Southern Worcester County League titles, two Clark University Tournament titles, a District E championship and at one time won 43 consecutive conference games. His Leicester football teams included two undefeated seasons and two S.W.C.L. championships. He also coached tennis for six seasons.

He spent time as Vice-Principal and basketball coach at David Prouty High School (Spencer, MA) (1982-85). His three years in Spencer included an undefeated season, two more S.W.C.L. titles, two Clark Tournament titles, and a District E title.

He also coached two years at Auburn, MA High School (one Clark Tournament), one year at Oxford, MA High School, two years at St. Mary's (Worcester, MA) and five years at Tantasqua Regional High.

He coached Worcester, MA State College basketball from 1974-79 leading the Lancers to their first N.C.A.A. tournament in 1976-77.

Today he is a guidance counselor and tennis coach at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Now living in Spencer, he is married to the former Charlene Grandmont and has two daughters Sarah and Rachel Anne and a son Andrew.