Now an assistant coach, T.J. Lipold began working for the EWU Basketball program in June of 2017 in an assistant director of basketball operations/video coordinator role. The 2020-21 season will be his fourth overall at EWU, and his first as an assistant coach after spending 2019-20 as the head director of basketball operations.
His previous responsibilities included film breakdown, scouting reports preparation, opponent player tendencies evaluation and day-to-day team operations.
"T.J. has worked his tail off the last few years in our program and is ready to make the jump into a coaching position," said Eastern head coach
Shantay Legans. "His energy and passion is infectious, and he will be a huge asset as he helps coach our defense and the big men."
He played two years (2010-2012) under John Moore at Westmont College, where he was a part of back-to-back 25-win seasons and earned his bachelor’s degree. Before Westmont, Lipold played his first two years of college basketball for Saddleback College (2009-10) under head coach Andy Ground and assistant Nick Booker. Booker is EWU’s former associate head coach.
While at Saddleback, Lipold earned first team All-Orange Empire League on a team that won the CCAA State Championship in 2010.
After completing his master’s degree in education in 2013, he started coaching at Saddleback College, serving as an assistant coach for three years. He contributed to another state title as part of the 2015 CCAA State Championship team, and his responsibilities included recruiting, practice planning, scouting, skill development and academic planning.
“I am just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something special and learn from an awesome coaching staff on a day to day basis,” said Lipold when he first came to EWU. “Coaching at the college level has been a dream of mine since as young as I can remember, as I grew up in a gym watching my dad coach at Long Beach City College.”
