It’s been a busy summer at Brown University. After separating the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs earlier, the Athletic Department has been filling up the coaching roster. Yesterday they announced the hiring of Kate Kovenock to run the women’s program; today Brown is stating that Chris Ip will lead the men’s team.
Ip has spent the last two years as assistant coach at LSU, during which time the men’s and women’s teams have placed 26th and 34th at NCAA Championships respectively in 2012-13, and 38th and 36th respectively in 2013-14.
Prior to his arrival at LSU, Ip was head coach at Clemson for ten years. During his tenure Ip produced 16 NCAA All-American and Honorable Mention All-American performers, 24 ACC Champions and 35 All-ACC swimmers. His athletes broke team records in 17 of the 24 events for both the men’s and women’s teams. Many of his athletes participated in Olympic trials both domestically and internationally. Ip received an ASCA Coach of Excellence award in 2012 for placing a swimmer top-eight at the 2012 NCAA Championships.
Ip shouldn’t have too much trouble transitioning to the Ivy League. While at Clemson, his women’s team garnered a cumulative team GPA of 3.62 and earned CSCAA Scholar All-American honors. Throughout his ten years the Clemson men’s and women’s teams were high academic performers, combining for an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 in 29 separate semesters. Three of Ip’s athletes went on to earn NCAA Post-graduate scholarships.
Good for Chris, could not happen to a nicer guy.
Congrats Chis. .Great leader for the program