Dave Fipp joined the Eagles coaching staff in 2013 as the team's special teams coordinator. Since taking over in 2013, Fipp has fielded a special teams unit that has accounted for an NFL-leading 12 TDs.
In 2016, Fipp's unit continued to thrive in the return game, as the Eagles ranked second in the NFL with a franchise record 27.314 kickoff return average, led the league with five kickoff returns of 50-plus yards, and were the only team to record multiple kickoff returns for TDs (two). Additionally, the Eagles finished second in the NFL in punt return average (12.9). In his first full season as the Eagles kicker, Caleb Sturgis connected on a career-high 35 field goals, marking the most in single-season franchise history.
The Eagles special teams unit flourished in 2015 under Fipp's direction, as it ranked second in the NFL in punt return average (11.4) and sixth in net punting average (41.6), while accounting for three touchdowns.
RB Darren Sproles earned his second-straight trip to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist in 2015 after leading all punt returners in yards (446) and touchdowns (two), while ranking second in punt return average (11.7). Sproles became the only player in team history to have multiple seasons with at least two punt returns for touchdowns and is just one of three Eagles players to have recorded multiple punt return touchdowns in the same season.
With the help of Fipp, P Donnie Jones broke the single-season team record for net punting average (41.6), a record he originally set in 2013. His single-season gross punting average (47.0) in 2015 marked the second-best finish in Eagles history. Through three seasons in Philly, Jones has become the top punter in team history in terms of both gross and net punting average.
Under Fipp's direction in 2014, the Eagles special teams unit was instrumental to the team's success, accounting for a franchise-best and NFL-leading seven touchdowns (three blocked punt returns, two kickoff returns and two punt returns) and a league-best six blocked kicks. The Eagles special teams unit was rated as the best in the league by The Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin in his annual special teams rankings.
In 2014, Sproles earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career after leading the NFL in punt return average (13.0), punt return yards (506 - 101 yards ahead of the next closest returner) and punt returns for touchdowns (two). Acquired from the Colts late in training camp, rookie K Cody Parkey turned in one of the best kicking seasons in Eagles history en route to Pro Bowl honors. Parkey (150 points) broke Kevin Butler's NFL rookie record and the Eagles franchise record for points scored in a single season while finishing second in the league in scoring. LS Jon Dorenbos also garnered Pro Bowl honors for the second time in his career.
Additionally, with two 100 yard kickoff returns for touchdowns by RB Chris Polk and WR Josh Huff, the Eagles became the first team since the 1970 Green Bay Packers to have two 100 yard kickoff returns by different returners in a season.
In 2013, Jones set team records in net punting average (40.5 - broken in 2015), single-game net punting average (50.7) and punts inside the 20 (33 - broke his own record with 34 in 2014). He became the fourth punter in league history to earn NFC Special Teams POW honors in consecutive games in a single season.
During his two years in Miami, the Dolphins ranked second (2011) and fourth (2012) in the NFL in overall special teams rankings, according to Gosselin's data. With the help of Fipp, LS John Denney earned his second Pro Bowl berth in 2012 while P Brandon Fields led the NFL with a 50.2 gross punting average.
The Dolphins special teams units showed the largest improvement in the NFL from 2010 to 2011, improving from 24th to second overall, according to Gosselin. Fipp joined the Dolphins staff after a three-year stint as the assistant special teams coach for the San Francisco 49ers from 2008-10. Under Fipp's direction in 2009, P Andy Lee earned his second Pro Bowl selection after ranking second in the NFL in gross punting average (47.6) and net punting average (41.0). In addition, RB Michael Robinson was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a specialist for his work in all phases of special teams, marking the second consecutive season he earned the recognition.
Prior to entering the NFL, Fipp spent three seasons with San Jose State where he served as the Spartans defensive coordinator in 2007 after spending the previous two seasons as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Fipp joined the Spartan staff after spending the 2004 season at the University of Nevada as the Wolfpack's co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He also served as the defensive coordinator at Cal Poly from 2002-03 after coaching the Mustangs' defensive backs in 2001.
Fipp began his coaching career at the College of the Holy Cross as the safeties coach in 1998 before becoming the secondary coach and special teams coordinator in 1999. Following his tenure at Holy Cross, Fipp returned to his alma mater, the University of Arizona, as a defensive graduate assistant in 2000.A four-year letterman and former walk-on at Arizona, Fipp played for the Wildcats from 1994-97. He was a leading tackler on special teams as a sophomore in 1995 and started at safety during his final two years with the Wildcats. The 1997 Wildcats defense ranked among the top defensive units in the Pac-10 Conference and ranked 12th nationally in rushing defense.
A native of Albuquerque, NM, Fipp and his wife, Jenny, have two daughters, Ashlee and Lilly, and a son, Tyler.
