Dave Pilipovich

David Gabe Pilipovich (born January 28, 1964) is an American college basketball coach who is currently special assistant to the head coach at New Mexico. He played college basketball at Thiel and has been a basketball coach since 1988. After five years as an assistant coach at the program, Pilipovich was head coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy from 2012 to 2020.

Dave Pilipovich
Pilipovich in 2019
Current position
TitleSpecial assistant to the head coach
TeamNew Mexico
ConferenceMW
Biographical details
Born (1964-01-28) January 28, 1964
Duquesne, Pennsylvania
Playing career
1982–1986Thiel
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1986–1988California (PA) (GA)
1988–1991Florida Atlantic (assistant)
1991–1994Florida Atlantic (associate HC)
1994–1996Georgia State (assistant)
1996–2000Robert Morris (assistant)
2000–2005Eastern Michigan (assistant)
2005-2006Michigan (basketball admin.)
2006–2007Michigan (assistant)
2007–2012Air Force (assistant)
2012–2020Air Force
2020-PresentNew Mexico (special asst.)
Head coaching record
Overall110–151
Tournaments1–1 (CIT)

Early life and education

Pilipovich grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania and graduated from Duquesne High School.[1][2] At Thiel College, Pilipovich played basketball for four years and was a team captain as a senior. He graduated from Thiel in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.[3] In 1988, he completed a master's degree in geography and regional planning from California University of Pennsylvania.[3]

Coaching career

Early coaching career (1986–2005)

Pilipovich began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at California University of Pennsylvania in 1986 before being named an assistant coach in 1988. Then from 1989 to 1991, Pilipovich was an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic. He was promoted to associate head coach, a position he would have from 1991 to 1994.[3] From 1994 to 1996, Pilipovich was an assistant coach at Georgia State.[3]

He then returned to Western Pennsylvania to be assistant coach at Robert Morris from 1996 to 2000.[3] At Robert Morris, Pilipovich helped head coach Jim Boone turn around a losing program, with two straight winning seasons in 1998–99 with a 15–12 record followed by an 18–12 record in 1999–2000.[4] Pilipovich then followed Boone to Eastern Michigan, serving as an assistant coach from 2000 to 2005, the entirety of Boone's tenure at the school.[3][4]

Michigan assistant (2005–2007)

From 2005 to 2007, Pilipovich served on the staff of Tommy Amaker at Michigan, first as an administrative assistant in 2005–06 then as an assistant coach in 2006–07.[5] Michigan appeared in two straight NITs that season, including the 2006 National Invitation Tournament final.[3]

Air Force assistant (2007–2012)

From 2007 to 2012, Pilipovich spent five years as an assistant at Air Force under Jeff Reynolds.[6] Following the 2009-10 season, the Falcons appeared in the post-season collegeinsider.com tournament. This was the Falcons first post-season tournament since 2007.

Air Force (2012–2020)

Pilipovich became the head coach at Air Force in February 2012 after Reynolds was relieved of his duties.[7] In his first year as head coach, he led the Falcons to a 58-56 victory over then 13th-ranked San Diego State, marking Air Force's first-ever win against a Top 20 team and just its second win over a ranked opponent.[3][6] Pilipovich won two of his first three games as Air Force's head coach.

In the 2012-13 season, Pilipovich led the Falcons to an 18–14 (8–8 MWC) record, tying the fourth most single season wins in program history. Air Force appeared in the 2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and achieved the first post-season road win in school history with a 69-65 victory at Hawai'i. Pilipovich also became the first Air Force head coach to beat two ranked teams in the same season and owns three of Air Force's four wins against ranked opponents, including an 89-88 win over the twelfth ranked New Mexico.[3]

However, the 2012–13 season would be the only winning season that Pilipovich would have in eight full seasons as head coach.[8] In 2018–19, Air Force finished 14–18 (8–10 MW), tying the 2012–13 team for the most single season conference wins.[8] However, the 2019–20 team had a 12–20 (5–13 MW) record.[8] On March 9, 2020, Pilipovich was fired.[8] Pilipovich left Air Force with a cumulative 110–151 (50–99 MW) record.[8]

New Mexico assistant (2020–present)

Pilipovich became special assistant to head coach Paul Weir at New Mexico on October 23, 2020.[9]

Personal

Pilipovich is married to Kelly and has two children, Kyle and Kelsey.[3] Pilipovich is of Serbian descent.[10]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Air Force Falcons (Mountain West Conference) (2012–2020)
2011–12[n 1] Air Force 2–62–67th
2012–13 Air Force 18–148–86thCIT Second Round
2013–14 Air Force 12–186–1210th
2014–15 Air Force 14–176–129th
2015–16 Air Force 14–185–1310th
2016–17 Air Force 11–214–14T–10th
2017–18 Air Force 12–196–129th
2018–19 Air Force 14–188–106th
2019–20 Air Force 12–205–139th
Air Force: 110–151 (.421)50–100 (.333)
Total:110–151 (.421)

Notes
  1. Pilipovich took over as interim head coach on February 8, 2012 after head coach Jeff Reynolds was fired. Their cumulative record for the 2011–12 season is 13–16 (3–11 MW).

References
  1. Anderson, Shelly (April 5, 2001). "Basketball: Two interested in RMC job". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on June 8, 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  2. Mackey, Jason (February 21, 2012). "Air Force men's basketball team takes flight under Duquesne native". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  3. "Dave Pilipovich". U.S. Air Force Academy. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  4. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/jim-boone-1.html
  5. "Wolverine Basketball Announces Staff Assignments". University of Michigan. August 9, 2006. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  6. Borzello, Jeff (January 30, 2013). "Pilipovich's philosophy on and off court has brought Ws to Air Force". Eye on College Basketball. CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  7. Moss, Irv (February 2, 2013). "AFA coach Dave Pilipovich setting more mellow tune that has Falcons men's basketball in groove". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  8. Arseniak, Nick (March 9, 2020). "Air Force parts ways with men's basketball coach Dave Pilipovich". U.S. Air Force Academy. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  9. "Lobos Add Former Air Force Head Coach Dave Pilipovich". University of New Mexico. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  10. "Pilipovich headed in right direction" (PDF). Srbobran. March 6, 2013. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
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