pɹˈaɪɚ tə kˈoʊtʃɪŋ æɾ ˌɪlənˈɔɪ, tˈɛpɚ sˈɜːvd æz ɐn ɐsˈɪstənt dᵻfˈɛnsɪv kˈoʊtʃ æt pˈɪtsbɜːɡ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɛvən, ɡɹˈædʒuːət ɐsˈɪstənt, nˈuː hˈæmpʃɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ˈeɪt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn, wˈɪljəm ænd mˈɛɹi nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɛvən, vɜːdʒˈɪniə tˈɛk nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː, ænd kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi θɹˈiː nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən.
Prior to coaching at Illinois, Tepper served as an assistant defensive coach at Pittsburgh (1967, graduate assistant), New Hampshire (1968–1971), William and Mary (1972–1977), Virginia Tech (1978–1982), and Colorado (1983–1987).