After scheduling issues left several staff members unable to coach the freshman girls’ basketball team this year, Varsity field hockey Coach Andrew Shipp decided to step into the role. 

“I don’t know who declined the position before me… We started the field hockey team here, and I helped start the girls’ lacrosse team here to provide girls an opportunity to play sports that they otherwise [might] not have had,” Shipp said. 

A coach of girls’ sports for 19 years, Coach Shipp has a history of helping other Lindbergh girls’ sports teams. With the help of Coach Jackie Stevens, he restarted the field hockey program in 2015. Then, he aided Coach Stevens in the start of the girls lacrosse team in its first full season in 2017, hoping to give more girls opportunities and freedoms of what is possible at Lindbergh. 

“Shipp knew I was interested in starting a girls’ lacrosse program at Lindbergh, so he asked for my help with field hockey since he thought working together would be beneficial for us both… Our program wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without his support,” Stevens said.

Over the past two centuries, gender disparities have been a topic of discussion in sports. An article done by Western Oregon University found that NBA players receive fifty percent of shared revenue from their teams and leagues, while WNBA players only receive twenty percent. Staff writer Jaliyn Hardin writes that women in sports also have fewer leadership roles to follow creating representation gaps, funding inequalities and career barriers. 

Coach Shipp embodies this idea at Lindbergh. By stepping into the role of the freshman girls’ basketball coach, he is actively working to close the representation gap that often leaves female athletes without consistent leadership.

“[Coach Luczak and I] were really trying to make sure that the freshman girls team was going to be able to stand because we really want them to be able to experience high school sports… and I’m just glad we’re here and can offer the kids an opportunity to play a sport they seem to love,” Shipp finished.

Lindbergh student and varsity field hockey player Evy Przygoda shared their experiences with Coach Shipp. 

“Shipp’s been a really good coach and not only just as a coach, but as a team player. He’s really great at working with us individually as well as a team,” Przygoda said.

Shipp is recognized by Prygoda and others as a strong coach and team player, valued for working with individuals and the group while noticing details others might overlook. He works effectively with individuals and the team as a whole, and can notice small things without being explicitly told.

“Shipp’s [very] good at noticing things that [no one has] outwardly told him. When we’re having issues as a team or between players, he’s able to see that and help us, [as well as] work with us through that type of thing,” Przygoda said.

Months before the winter sports season started, Shipp expressed his excitement to the varsity girls’ field hockey team, preparing for the upcoming basketball season. Part of his motivation stemmed from his desire to mentor younger athletes, an experience that he said shaped his own journey as a student-athlete years ago. 

“Seeing that no one else was able to make this happen, I felt that it would be the right thing to do to step in and learn some basketball with them so that they could have a season, and the kids could get to play,” Shipp finished.

Freshman basketball player Penny Anslem said this knowledge is helping to bring new momentum to his new role.  

“Shipp has [been] an amazing freshman coach, and the way he approaches us is just so understanding. He really understands everything that’s going on, and he helps just our team in general,” Anselm shares.

Shipp’s approach of understanding and empathy, while creating a supportive environment for the athletes, is part of a bigger overall vision for the team’s future. 

“What I want to accomplish is that they all come back next year and want to play again. I hope for this year that they learn some skills to make themselves a competitive team, learn how to trust and work with each other, and in the end, just have fun,” Shipp said. 

His main goal isn’t just about winning games – it’s about building a positive experience. He emphasized that taking the job wasn’t just about adding another title to his resume, but about ensuring that the girls had a chance to grow and enjoy the sport. He wants the players to develop teamwork and skills, but most importantly, he wants them to return to the team the next coming season.

“Normally, Shipp checks in with each of us individually, making sure that all of our needs are met. He checks in to make sure we are all enjoying the sport as well as succeeding on the court,” freshman basketball player Avery Strautz finished.

Shipp views coaching as more than just managing a single team; it’s about mentorship, recruitment, and building continuity so that students have lasting opportunities in sports. By tying his work with the freshman to the long-term success of varsity teams, Shipp emphasized that his coaching is about building a pipeline of talent and opportunity.

“They want to try. They want to prove that they can make it to the next level. We’ve got a ton of talent to build with, so it should be a really fun adventure for us,” Shipp said.