Corey Gipson hired as head coach at Northwestern State

Missouri State’s Corey Gipson will become the new head coach at Northwestern State, the school announced on Monday. Gipson comes to Natchitoches after seven seasons at MSU, the last six as associate head coach.

“As we went through the search process, it was clear Corey possessed all the qualities we desired in a coach,” AD Kevin Bostian said in the release. “We look forward to him building upon the great legacy coach McConathy built here at Northwestern State. Corey has been successful at every stop in his career. He is a strong coach and recruiter, but more importantly, he has a track record of developing student-athletes into better young men on and away from the game of basketball.”

Gipson becomes the first African-American head coach in the history of the Northwestern State basketball program. This is his first head coaching opportunity after nearly two decades in the game.

“This is very humbling, first and foremost, to be able to take the helm of a program with so much history and tradition,” said Gipson. “My family and I are elated to be going to a historic community and a program where coach McConathy has built such a great legacy. He paved the way for me and my family to come in and have a chance to push that legacy forward. It is an opportunity we do not take lightly. We see it as a privilege.

The Demons were led for the last 23 seasons by Mike McConathy, who retired this month with 330 wins, three Southland titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances to his credit. The program last played in the postseason in 2015 (CIT) and have not been to the Big Dance since 2013.

credit to Northwestern State Athletics for the image