White Station High School recently held a special tribute to honor the school’s former basketball coach, Terrell (Terry) Wright Tippett. Coach Tippett, who died on November 16 at age 79, was the boys head basketball coach from 1986 to 2004. He was a mentor to many players and students, many of whom joined in honoring his legacy at the tribute on November 23. The White Station gym floor is named for him.

Throughout his coaching career, Coach Tippett accumulated more than 900 career wins and six state titles. He began his basketball coaching career at Collierville High School in 1968 and continued coaching at Dyer County High School from 1972 to 1977. 

He returned to Memphis to coach at Trezevant High School, where his team won a state championship in 1980. He coached at White Station from 1986 to 2004, with his teams winning 472 games, finishing as state runners-up twice, and winning the state tournament four times. He finished his career at Evangelical Christian School in 2018. While there, his team won a state championship in 2011. 

In an Instagram tribute to Coach Tippet, Memphis artist Dana Shoops wrote: “He changed the entire shape of my future. He was one of the most encouraging, kind and supportive men I've known. RIP Coach! You will be so missed.” Indeed. Coach’s memory and legacy live on.

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