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Andy Hipsher has been hired as a new assistant men's basketball coach at Utah Valley State. (Photo by Chad Clark)
 
Andy Hipsher has been hired as a new assistant men's basketball coach at Utah Valley State. (Photo by Chad Clark)
  
 
Utah Valley State Men's Basketball Update

Ryan Toolson and Brett Ravenberg have returned to the team after serving a two-year LDS mission.

Oct. 9, 2006

Orem, UT- Utah Valley State men's basketball coach Dick Hunsaker has announced the hiring of Andy Hipsher as a new assistant coach. Hipsher comes to Utah Valley after working as the video coordinator at UNLV under Lon Krueger. Prior to his stint at UNLV, Hipsher was on the staff at Texas Tech for two years under Bob Knight.

Hipsher played college basketball for his father, Dan, at the University of Akron before getting into coaching. Hipsher's father has 28 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 15 years as a head coach. He is currently an assistant at the University of Arkansas.

During Hipsher's playing career he was named to the Mid American Conference All-Freshman team in 1999. In 2003 he garnered preseason First Team All-MAC honors. His playing career was curtailed to due three back surgeries.

"Andy grew up at the dinner table talking basketball with his father and has two solid years apprenticing at Texas Tech," Hunsaker said. "I am looking forward to his eagerness and enthusiasm on our staff."

Also joining the staff is former BYU-Hawaii assistant coach Isaac Turley.

Hunsaker's former assistants, Curtis Condie, Mark Coffman and Kevin Young all left Utah Valley State to advance in the coaching profession. Condie was recently named the head coach at NCAA Division II Texas A&M-International University while Coffman took a job as the head assistant at Texas-Pan American. Kevin Young is the head coach and general manager of the Shamrock Rovers Hoops Superleague team in Ireland.

Returning to the team this season from LDS missions are Ryan Toolson and Brett Ravenberg. Toolson played in 27 games as a freshman and was the second leading scorer on the team at 13.4 points. Ravenberg played in 27 games, starting 24 during the Wolverines 23-5 season in 2003-04. Josh Cottle has informed the coaching staff that he will not return to UVSC following his two-year LDS mission. Tika Wesley has also told the coaching staff he is not going to play basketball his senior year so he can concentrate on his academic studies.

Former Wolverine guard Ronnie Price is preparing for his second NBA season with the Sacramento Kings, who open exhibition play on Oct. 12 at Dallas. Center Ben Devoe signed to play professionally in the Czech Republic.