Woodland football coach heading to Hopkins School
BEACON FALLS — After 14 years as a teacher and football coach at Woodland Regional High School, Tim Phipps felt it was in his best interest to explore another opportunity outside of what he was accustomed to.
It turned out to be not that far from Beacon Falls and his home in Prospect, but outside of the Naugatuck Valley League and into the prep school environment.
On Thursday, Phipps, 40, was appointed the head coach at Hopkins School in New Haven, succeeding retiring and longtime coach Tom Parr.
Phipps will also teach history and serve as a coach in another undetermined sport for the Hilltoppers. He begins his post Aug. 10.
“It’s a new phase of my career,” Phipps said. “What appealed to me was this was a new challenge. Hopkins has such strong academic and athletic tradition. That was very intriguing to me. It’s a big move. There will be a lot new expectations. I’m excited about that.”
Phipps met with the returning Woodland players also Thursday. He said the program still plans to conduct spring football practice with the coaching staff still in place while the school searches for a new head coach.
“In 14 years, I was used to the routine and rhythm,” Phipps said. “I think it will be a worthwhile change. Woodland prepared me for it.”
Not having to relocate with his family, his wife, Karen, and children, Caitlin, 9, Maeve, 6, and Thomas, 4, made this ideal.
After 13 seasons as an assistant football coach at Woodland, Phipps was elevated to head coach for the 2014 season, succeeding Tim Shea. The Hawks compiled a 4-7 record.
Previously as the quarterbacks coach, Phipps helped Woodland to six playoff appearances and two NVL and two state titles in 2004 and 2005. He was the Hawks’ offensive coordinator from 2008-14.
A 1993 Ansonia High graduate, Phipps earned a history degree from the University of Connecticut in 1997 and a master’s in education from Sacred Heart University in 2000.
