The Shipp File
Alma Mater, Year	Arkansas Tech, 2007
Record at Arkansas Tech (Years)	17-27 (5 Seasons)
Overall Record (Years)	Same

Kyle Shipp enters into his sixth year as head football coach at Arkansas Tech. 

A former Wonder Boys player and assistant coach, Shipp returned to Russellville and initially joined the staff in January 2019 as the team's offensive coordinator. A few months into his return, Shipp was elevated to head coach following the resignation of Bo Atterberry due to health reasons.

In his five seasons leading the football program, Shipp's Wonder Boys have only competed in four seasons of action as the entirety of the 2020 season was not played due to the on-going effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In those four seasons, Shipp's Wonder Boys have made steady improvements all around and have amassed a 17-27 overall record.

This past season, Shipp guided the Wonder Boys to a second-straight 5-6 record. Over the final seven weeks of the season, Shipp and his Wonder Boys went an impressive 5-2. Playing three nationally-ranked teams during the course of the 2023 season, the Wonder Boys were a possession away from upset victories in two of those games as they lost by just three points at home to No. 23-ranked Henderson State and by a touchdown on the road at No. 14 Ouachita.

In terms of post-season accolades for his 2023 team, the Wonder Boys had five All-GAC performers, a pair of all-region selections and one All-American in punter Aaron Winn. A consensus All-American, Winn would end his final year as a Wonder Boy leading NCAA Division II in Punting Average at 45.0 yards per punt.

In 2022, Shipp coached six All-GAC players, highlighted by First Team selection, Jesus Zizumbo. The reliable placekicker for the Wonder Boys would go on to earn all-region and All-America honors. In the final home game of the season that year, Zizumbo set the Tech career record for field goals with a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired against Southwestern Oklahoma.

The 2021 season saw the Wonder Boys be competitive in each game. Proof of that came in the fact that three of the defeats that year were by a single-possession with the total point differential of 13 points. Among that, Shipp's Wonder Boys pushed nationally-ranked Henderson State to overtime, and limited the high-powered offensive attack of Harding to some of their lowest marks of the season.

During his first year leading the program in 2019, the Wonder Boys were able to produce an important three game win streak that helped them finish the season strong. Additionally, that year, Tech landed five players on the GAC All-Conference team.

Prior to his return to his alma mater, Shipp spent five seasons (2014-2018) as the offensive coordinator at Great American Conference rival Arkansas-Monticello. 

Shipp's UAM offenses continually improved over his time in Monticello, with this last year's Boll Weevil squad averaging 398.6 yards per game - the second-highest mark in the GAC. Two Boll Weevils made all-conference as UAM posted its first winning season since 2008.

Two of Shipp's UAM offenses averaged over 400 yards per game, and in 2017, former NFL wideout Jalen Tolliver was named GAC Offensive Player of the Year. During his time at UAM, Shipp mentored eleven all-Great American Conference players. 

Prior to his time at UAM, Shipp was on staff at Tech as the wide receivers coach for three seasons (2011-2013). During his first stint in Russellville, Shipp helped the Wonder Boys offense average 30 points and 400 yards of total offense per game during a 2012 season that featured former Montreal Alouettes quarterback Tanner Marsh. Additionally, his kickoff return team of 2011 led NCAA Division II in returns for touchdowns with three. He also coached a pair of all-conference receivers during those three seasons in Russellville.

Prior to returning to Arkansas Tech in 2011, Shipp served two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas State under Steve Roberts. With the Red Wolves, Shipp helped coach an offense that set nine school records during the 2010 season, and aided the team to a No. 43 national rank and No. 2 Sun Belt Conference rank in total offense (4,841 yards). That season, he worked under then offensive coordinator Hugh Freeze as A-State installed the spread no-huddle offense that has been a trademark of a Freeze offense

Shipp began his coaching career as a student assistant at Arkansas Tech in 2006 and was promoted to graduate assistant for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. During those three seasons, Shipp had his hand in coaching several aspects of the team, including defensive backs, special teams, receivers, quality control and quarterbacks. He also assisted with recruiting during those seasons.

The Morrilton, Ark. native played three seasons at Arkansas Tech from 2003-05 as a receiver and was a part of the Wonder Boys’ NCAA Division II playoff team in 2004. He holds a pair of degrees from ATU, a bachelor’s degree in history and political science obtained in 2007 and a master’s degree in college student personnel obtained in 2009. He is married to the former Krystal Carr of Russellville. The couple have a daughter and a son and reside in Russellville.

 

Kyle Shipp Coaching Career
Year	School	Position	Note(s)
2023	Arkansas Tech	Head Coach	* - 5-6 overall record (5-6 GAC) * - Coached five All-GAC players  * - Coached two all-region players * - Coached one All-America player
2022	Arkansas Tech	Head Coach	* - 5-6 overall record (5-6 GAC) * - Coached six All-GAC players  * - Coached one all-region player * - Coached one All-America player * - Coached RB Devontae Dean who went on to sign with Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL * - Winning record at home (first for program since 2017)
2021	Arkansas Tech	Head Coach	* - 4-7 overall record (4-7 GAC) * - Coached pair of All-GAC players
2020	Arkansas Tech	Head Coach	* - Season not played due to COVID-19
2019	Arkansas Tech	Head Coach	* - 3-8 overall record (3-8 GAC) * - First-year head coach; returning to alma mater  * - Picked up first career win vs. Northwestern Oklahoma (10-19-19)
2018	Arkansas-Monticello	Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator	* - Total Offense ranked 2nd in GAC (398.6 ypg)
2017	Arkansas-Monticello	Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator	* - Total Offense ranked 2nd in GAC (455.4 ypg) * - Coached All-America WR Jalen Tolliver who went on to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals
2016	Arkansas-Monticello	Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator	* - Averaged over 400 ypg of total offense and over 30.0 ppg
2015	Arkansas-Monticello	Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks	* - Averaged over 300 ypg of passing offense
2014	Arkansas-Monticello	Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
2013	Arkansas Tech	Wide Receivers
2012	Arkansas Tech	Wide Receivers
2011	Arkansas Tech	Wide Receivers
2010	Arkansas State	Graduate Assistant	* - Coached under head coach Steve Roberts and offensive coordinator Hugh Freeze
2009	Arkansas State	Graduate Assistant
2008	Arkansas Tech	Graduate Assistant
2007	Arkansas Tech	Graduate Assistant
2006	Arkansas Tech	Student Assistant