 In 1977, he graduated from Bowling Green State University, where he was captain of the basketball team for two seasons.From 1981 to 1989, Hipsher served as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton under Don Donoher.His first head coaching position was at Wittenberg University, where he compiled a 97–18 record while winning four North Coast Athletic Conference titles and two NCAC Tournament titles.