STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Stony Brook men's basketball head coach Geno Ford officially announced the hiring of Andy Hipsher as the program's new associate head coach on Friday. Hipsher brings with him almost 20 years of coaching experience, most recently spending the last seven seasons in Europe.

"We are really excited to add Andy to our coaching staff," remarked Ford. "He has extensive experience having been an assistant at various levels including the Big East. He has most recently been a successful Head Coach at the professional level in Europe. I'm confident with his experiences as a great player and coach he will be a tremendous resource for our players. He's going to be an excellent asset to our program and will make a significant impact on our players."

Since the 2023-24 season, Hipsher has served as head coach of BK Olomoucko in the Czech Republic's top-tier league, the NBL. During his first season the team advanced to the NBL Quarterfinals, as well as the Alpe Adria Cup Final 4 and the Czech Slovak Cup Final 8. Last year, Hipsher led his team to the NBL semifinals, eventually claiming the bronze medal.

Prior to his time in the Czech Republic, Hipsher was head coach of Team FOG Naestved in Denmark's top-tier BasketLigaen from 2021-23. In his second season with the team they won 16 games and made it all the way to the league finals, ultimately earning the silver medal. Hipsher's time in Northern Europe began a year prior in the 2020-21 season as an assistant for UU-Korihait Uusikaupunki in Finland's Korisliiga, the highest league in the country.

In 2018, Hipsher headed to Germany to make his European basketball debut. His first season was as an assistant coach with Hebeisen White Wings Hanau, before becoming head coach of Tigers Tuebingen in 2019-20. Both teams were in Germany's second-tier Pro-A league.

Before his time in Europe, Hipsher last coached in the NCAA as an associate head coach at UTRGV from 2013-16. He worked directly under his father, head coach Dan Hipsher, for all three seasons with the Vaqueros. Dan accumulated over 250 career victories across an 18-year head coaching career. That experience shaped Andy's foundation in leadership, accountability, and tactical discipline.

Hipsher spent the previous four seasons from 2009-13 at South Florida during the Big East days, first as the director of basketball operations and then as an assistant. With his help, USF twice made it to the postseason, first qualifying for the NIT in 2010 and later the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years in 2012 as the team advanced to the round of 32 after defeating California and Temple. Hipsher also oversaw the development and recruitment of several EuroLeague players, including Zach LeDay, Victor Rudd, and John Egbunu, as well as NBA first-round pick and NBA Champion Dominique Jones.

During the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, Hipsher was an assistant coach at Western Michigan, helping the Broncos to a pair of MAC West Regular Season titles. A year before, in 2006-07, he made his college coaching debut as an assistant with Utah Valley, leading the Wolverines to a 22-7 record; the best record by a Division I independent school since Notre Dame (23-6) in 1986. 

Just before securing his first full-time coaching gig, Hispher spent three months working with Lon Krueger as a video coordinator at UNLV in 2006. This was not his first time working alongside a hall of fame coach, however, as he served as a graduate student assistant under Bob Knight at Texas Tech from 2004-06, helping the Red Raiders make it all the way to the Sweet 16 in 2005. 

In 1999, Hipsher first made his way into college hoops with his first of five seasons as a player at Akron where he was coached by his father Dan. Overcoming three separate back surgeries, he would go on to serve as captain for three years and become one of the greatest Zips of his era, scoring 1,136 points and ranking top 10 in program history with 344 assists and 140 steals, all while shooting .502 (365-727) from the field. 

"I'm thrilled to join the Stony Brook men's basketball program and to work alongside Geno Ford, someone I've known and respected for over 25 years," said Hipsher. "It was going to take a special situation to bring me back from coaching in Europe, and the vision Geno shared for my role, one that allows me to have a meaningful impact, made this the right fit. I'm excited to get to work with our players, our staff, and the Stony Brook community."

Hipsher earned his bachelor's degree in business management with a minor in entrepreneurship from Akron in 2003. He would go on to complete his master's in business administration with a concentration in marketing in 2005.

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