Eagles Notes: Source: Eagles hire Dave Fipp to coach special teams

By Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: January 24, 2013

MOBILE, Ala. - The Eagles have hired Dave Fipp to be their next special teams coordinator, an NFL source said.

The Eagles have not confirmed coaching hires since Chip Kelly was named head coach last week. They intend to announce the new additions once Kelly finalizes his staff. Kelly has most of his coaches in place, according to various reports, but still needs to hire a defensive coordinator and an offensive line coach.

There is growing speculation that the Eagles are waiting until after the Super Bowl to hire a defensive coordinator. Of the San Francisco 49ers staff, defensive backs coach Ed Donatell and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would seem to be the most likely candidates.

Fipp, who was the assistant special teams coordinator for the Dolphins over the last two seasons, was seen at Senior Bowl practices on Wednesday wearing an Eagles sweatshirt.

The 38-year-old Fipp assisted Miami special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for the last two seasons. The Dolphins were ranked second and fourth in special teams in 2011 and 2012, according to calculations done by the Dallas Morning News.

Fipp was also responsible for assisting head coach Joe Philbin with game management.

Before coming to Miami, Fipp was the assistant special teams coordinator in San Francisco for three seasons. He worked at San Jose State from 2005 to 2007 and was the defensive coordinator in his last season there.

Fipp was a walk-on safety at the University of Arizona. He made coaching stops at Holy Cross, Arizona, Cal Poly, and Nevada before settling at San Jose State.

Fipp replaces Bobby April, who was hired by the Oakland Raiders last week to run their special teams. The Eagles' special teams have been below average for several years and were ranked 28th this season by the Morning News.

The Eagles have been unable to find the right special teams leader since John Harbaugh ended his tenure as coordinator. Rory Segrest (2007-08), Ted Daisher (2009), and April (2010-11) followed Harbaugh, who is now the coach of the AFC champion Baltimore Ravens.

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