Davidson High School girls basketball coach Charlie Shipp reached an extraordinary milestone Tuesday, January 7, earning his 600th career victory as the Warriors defeated Mary G. Montgomery 42-27.
Shipp, 61, has spent 35 years in education and coaching, amassing a basketball record of 600-192—all at Davidson. He started his public school career as a PE teacher at Just 4, later teaching and coaching football at Grand Bay High. He joined Davidson in the fall of 1998 as an assistant football coach before coaching softball for 17 years and taking over the girls basketball program in 2000. He coached all three sports simultaneously at one point before focusing solely on basketball.
“It’s truly a milestone," Shipp said of the achievement. "Not many people have the ability to win 600 games, and it just feels great knowing that I was able to do that.”
Shipp has led the Warriors to the AHSAA Tournament six times, with Class 6A runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006. Now in his 25th year at Davidson, he credits his success to the quality players and coaches with whom he’s worked, including this year’s team.
“I really have a good group of players and it was nice getting to experience this with them,” he said. “Our goal every year is to make it to the Final Four, so we hope to do just that.”
Shipp’s career includes 301 victories as Davidson’s softball coach, giving him 901 total wins. His coaching career has come full circle, even mentoring multiple generations -- including current senior forward Zydia Johnson, whose mother played basketball for him earlier in his career.
