If you walk into F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville right now, the energy is different. It’s loud. It’s frantic. It feels like 2003 all over again, and that’s not an accident. The man pacing the sidelines, Corey Gipson, isn’t just some guy they hired off a search firm's shortlist. He’s the personification of Austin Peay basketball. Honestly, calling him just the "Austin Peay basketball coach" feels like an understatement because he’s basically a local folk hero who decided to come home and fix what was broken.
And it was broken.
Before Gipson showed up for his first season in 2023-24, the program was drifting. Transitioning to the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) was proving to be a headache. But then Gipson—a guy who won three OVC titles as a player for the Govs—stepped off the plane from Northwestern State and brought 13 new players with him. Yeah, 13. Most coaches try to keep a "culture of continuity." Gipson just flipped the table and started over.
The Gipson Effect: More Than Just X’s and O’s
People always ask what makes him different. It’s the "Total Gov" concept, but without the corporate fluff. He’s obsessive. During his playing days under the legendary Dave Loos, Gipson was part of a squad that went 27-0 at home. He knows what the Winfield Dunn Center used to feel like, and he’s translated that "fortress" mentality to the new arena.
His first year was a whirlwind. He orchestrated the greatest turnaround in the ASUN, taking a team that was struggling and dragging them all the way to the ASUN Tournament Championship game. Most first-year coaches are happy if their players remember the playbook. Gipson had them breaking the school record for three-pointers made (277) and attempted (768). He doesn’t play "safe" basketball. He plays aggressive, perimeter-heavy, "we’re going to out-work you" ball.
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A Look at the Resume
- The Alma Mater Bond: Two-time Austin Peay graduate (2004, 2005).
- The Magic Touch: Led Northwestern State to a 22-11 record and a win over No. 15 TCU before coming back to Clarksville.
- The Record-Breaker: Tied the most wins by a first-year Austin Peay head coach with 19.
It’s kinda wild when you look at how he recruits. He doesn't just look for stars; he looks for "yeoman" workers. Take Creighton Morisch, a 6-10 graduate forward he brought in for the 2025-26 season. Gipson didn't just talk about his points; he raved about how Morisch "communicates defensive ball screen coverages early, loud, and often." That’s a coach’s coach right there. He’s looking for the intangibles that don’t show up on a TikTok highlight reel.
Why the Women’s Side Is Just as Electric
You can’t talk about the Austin Peay basketball coach scene without mentioning Brittany Young. While Gipson is the fiery alum, Young is the clinical, high-level recruiter who has been quietly building a powerhouse on the women's side since 2021. She was the first coach in program history to hit back-to-back conference tournament semifinals right out of the gate.
She’s a disciple of Dawn Staley—she was a graduate assistant at South Carolina. You can see that DNA in how the Lady Govs play. They are disciplined. They are tough. Her 37 wins in her first two seasons were the most by any coach in that span in school history.
Last season (2024-25) was a bit of a grind, finishing 13-18. It happens. But look at what she’s doing for the 2026-27 roster. She’s already pulling in players like Franziska Kelly, a former Mississippi Miss Basketball who averaged 26 points a game. Young isn't just trying to compete in the ASUN; she’s trying to own it.
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The Strategy: "The 3-Pointer or the Grave"
If you watch a Corey Gipson-led team, you better like the long ball. In the 2024-25 season, the Govs broke their own three-pointer record again with 280 makes. They shoot often. They shoot early. It’s high-variance basketball that keeps fans on the edge of their seats and opposing coaches reaching for the Tylenol.
But it’s not just "chuck and pray." The defense is where Gipson really hangs his hat. Back in his Northwestern State days, his squad led the Southland in scoring defense. At Austin Peay, he’s emphasized forcing turnovers. In the current 2025-26 stretch, the Govs have been averaging over 11 steals per game. That’s transition offense waiting to happen.
Current 2025-26 Standings (As of Mid-January)
The men’s team is currently sitting pretty at 11-5 overall and a perfect 5-0 in ASUN play. They just had a massive 102-83 blowout against North Florida.
The women’s team has surged back to life too, sitting at 10-3 and showing that the 2024 slump was just a blip, not a trend.
What Most People Get Wrong About Clarksville Hoops
The biggest misconception is that Austin Peay is a "stepping stone" job. For some, maybe. But for Gipson? This is the destination. He was the 2012 Young Alumnus of the Year. He met his wife here. He bled for the jersey as a point guard.
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When a coach actually cares about the bricks and mortar of the building, the players feel it. You see it in the way Collin Parker—a graduate transfer who became the all-time leading scorer at Columbia College—chose to spend his final year under Gipson. Parker is currently averaging nearly 16 points a game. He could have gone to a "bigger" conference, but he chose the culture in Clarksville.
How to Follow the Governors This Season
If you’re trying to keep up with the Austin Peay basketball coach and his squad, you need to be looking at the ASUN schedule closely. The "Battle of the Border" and matchups against Lipscomb are where the season is won or lost.
- Watch on ESPN+: Almost every home game at F&M Bank Arena is broadcast there.
- The Coaches Show: Catch Gipson and Young every Monday at the Five Star Radio Group sessions. It’s where you get the actual context behind the wins and losses.
- F&M Bank Arena: If you’re within driving distance of Clarksville, go. The atmosphere is top-tier mid-major basketball.
The reality is that Austin Peay is currently in a golden era of leadership. You have two coaches who are absolute sharks in the recruiting market and tactical geniuses on the court. Whether it’s Gipson’s "peace and purpose" mantra or Young’s "Total Gov" development, the basketball program is the healthiest it’s been in two decades.
Keep an eye on the ASUN tournament seedings as we head into February. If the men keep up this 5-0 conference start, we’re looking at a potential NCAA Tournament berth. And for Corey Gipson, taking his alma mater back to the Big Dance would be the ultimate full-circle moment.
To stay updated on live stats and upcoming tip-off times, check the official LetsGoPeay website or follow the team's social media channels for real-time highlights and post-game press conferences.