Mansfield University has announced that the interim tag has been removed from men’s basketball coach Pat Zipfel.
“We’re very excited to have Coach Zipfel continue his work with the Red & Black” said Interim Director of Athletics Chaelim Nellis. “He brings a strong foundation of returning players along with an excellent recruiting class that has our team ready to compete in the PSAC.”
Zipfel was named interim head coach prior to the start of the 2015-16 season after serving 15 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, including the last two as an advance scout with the Chicago Bulls under head coach Tom Tibodeau.
In his first season with the Mountaineers, Zipfel guided 2nd Team All-PSAC East selection Thomas Moore who ranked 11th in the conference in scoring at 15.4 ppg and second in assists with 5.3 a game. Zipfel also coached sophomore Matt Tamanosky who topped the PSAC and ranked 22nd in the nation in field goal percentage, connecting on 59.8% of shots.
“I’m pleased for the opportunity and excited about the direction our program is heading,” said Zipfel. “We have been working very hard on a recruiting class that has the possibility of being exceptional and we bring back a strong corps of returning players.”
Prior to his stint with the Bulls, Zipfel spent four seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the same capacity. He also was a member of the coaching staff for the L.A. Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.
In 2011, Zipfel served as an advance scout for Mike Fratello and the Ukrainian National Team.
Zipfel was the head coach of the New Jersey Squires of the ABA during the 2003-04 season, leading the team to the ABA quarterfinals and has extensive experience working with the Dominican Republic National Team under John Calipari and Orlando Antigua.
Zipfel began his coaching career at the collegiate level serving as an assistant coach for Division I The Citadel. He was the head coach at Bucks County Community College for the 1995-96 season before becoming the head men’s basketball coach as well as Director of Athletics at Centenary College in New Jersey from 1996-1999. While at Centenary he guided the Cyclones to their first post-season berth, advancing to the quarterfinals of the ECAC Division II Championship Tournament. He still holds the school record for career wins.
Zipfel returned to Bucks County Community College as head coach prior to starting his NBA career.
Zipfel played point guard as an undergraduate at Cabrini College before graduating in 1989 with a degree in English/Communications.
The Mountaineers open the 2016-17 season with an exhibition game at Division I Duquesne on Nov. 5.
