Joe Cipriano
Joe Cipriano (1931-1980)
Teams coached: Idaho Vandals, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Idaho record: 43-35 (.551)
Nebraska record: 254-196 (.564)
Overall record: 297-231 (.563)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 3 (1967, 1978, 1980)
Awards:
- Big Eight Coach of the Year: 3 (1966, 1978, 1980)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1963-1980 | Nebraska |
| 1960-1963 | Idaho |
| 1953-1960 | Washington (asst) |
Joe Cipriano Facts
- Joe Cipriano
- Born October 27, 1931
- Died November 25, 1980
- Hometown: Sumas, Washington
- Alma Mater: University of Washington (BA, 1953)
- Played at Washington under head coach Tippy Dye; started for the 1952-53 squad that reached the NCAA Final Four
- Started coaching at Washington right away, serving as the freshman coach and as one of Dye’s assistants
- Also spent one year on the staff of new Huskies’ head coach John Grayson
- Hired in 1960 to be the head coach at Idaho, going 43-35 in three seasons with the Vandals
- Coached future Hall of Famer Gus Johnson in 1962-63, his only season playing at Idaho
- Left Idaho for Nebraska in 1963, hired by his former coach and new NU athletic director Tippy Dye
- Went 254-196 over 17 seasons, reaching three NITs and winning three Big Eight COY awards
- Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1980, forcing him to step away from the sidelines
- Passed away from cancer at age 49; survived by his three children and his second wife, Marva
Joe Cipriano Coaching Tree
- Wayne Anderson (Idaho)
- Rex Hughes (San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Kent State)
- Moe Iba (TCU, Nebraska)