Jeff Tipping, the Director of Education and Coaching Development for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America since 2002, is stepping down from that position to pursue other professional interests. His departure is effective Friday, January 28, 2011.

“The NSCAA Academy is the benchmark for excellence in soccer coaching education in the United States, and that is a direct result of the investment of time and talent that Jeff Tipping has made through the last three decades, first as a member of our Academy staff and during the past eight and a half years as our Director of Education and Coaching Development,” said NSCAA CEO and Executive Director Joe Cummings. “We appreciate the many contributions Tipp has made to our success and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

During Tipping’s tenure, the NSCAA expanded its coaching education offerings into the broadest-based in the world. Additions included the Youth Level I Diploma, formerly known as the Parent-Coach Diploma, and the Master Coach Diploma, an 18-month program that is the pinnacle of American soccer coaching education. Also created were specialized courses that address the unique educational needs of club directors of coaching and high school coaches.

Tipping’s involvement with the NSCAA's education program began in 1983, when he was appointed to the National Staff. He was named Assistant Director in 1994, then elevated to Director of Coaching in 1996. He held the part-time post until 2000, when it became a full-time position. He then assumed the full-time position in 2002, succeeding Mike Parsons in the role.

A 1978 graduate of Hartwick College, he played four years of collegiate soccer, leading the team to the 1977 NCAA championship while earning Defensive Most Valuable Player honors. Drafted into the American Soccer League, he was captain of the Pennsylvania Stoners for five seasons, earning All-Pro recognition three times (1979-81) and winning the league title in 1980. A knee injury cut short his playing career in 1982.

He then turned to coaching, returning to Hartwick to serve as assistant soccer coach and lacrosse coach. In 1986 he earned a master's degree from Lehigh University and was named Director of Soccer at Muhlenberg, where he compiled a record of 225-71-21, earned four conference championships, eight NCAA Tournament appearances and a berth in the 1995 Final Four.

Formerly Muhlenberg’s men's tennis and golf coach, he is the only coach in school history to take teams to NCAA championships in two different sports (soccer and golf). He also was an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team in 1998, providing advisory support to head coach Tony DiCicco.

Cummings indicated that a timetable for identifying Tipping’s successor is being developed.

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