The Westwood Independent School District Board of Trustees named Randy Pippin as the new head football coach Monday, May 11 during the regular school board meeting.
Pippin officially begins Monday, June 1, replacing Richard Bishop who was let go in February. He is also the recruiting coordinator for the Panthers.
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“I am excited to be back in East Texas where the greatest people and the greatest football is,” Pippin said.
The new head football coach comes after the hiring and promotion of Athletic Director and head boys basketball Coach Kadrian Bryant in April.
“The board is excited to get someone with the experience of Pippin coming to the district,” Westwood Board President Jeff Cooper said.
Pippin comes to Westwood after a stint at Jacksonville State University (Alabama) as a senior analyst. He spent the past season as the defensive coordinator and track and field coach at Brazoswood High School.
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He has been a head coach at Middle Georgia College, University of West Alabama and Northwest Mississippi Community College.
When the position became available at Westwood, Pippin said he knew of Bryant and wanted to come to a solid football school like the Panthers.
“I have heard a lot and known a lot about Coach Bryant, and we had a mutual friend who connected us,” Pippin said. “I am ready to be a head coach again and love East Texas. I grew up in Mesquite. East Texas is home to me.”
Pippin brings more than 30 years of experience at the college and high school levels and two national titles as the head coach of the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals in Athens.
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He is a Trinity Valley Community College Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and was the head football coach from 1990-1995.
Pippin said he will play a big hand on the defensive side of the ball and will have a change in the defensive philosophy.
“I like to stay multiple on defense and get the right players in the right spots,” Pippin said. “We will play hard and fast on defense and be relentless to the football. I am going to get to know the players and let them know me. I will oversee the whole program and dynamics under coach Bryant’s leadership.”
Westwood heads into the 2026-27 season in District 9-3A, Division I with Crockett, Diboll, Fairfield, Huntington and Trinity during the upcoming football season.
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“I wrote the schedule on the board and looked at it and observed it,” Pippin said. “It is a good 3A district and it is not an easy schedule in any stretch of the imagination.”
Even with a quarterback like Texas Tech commit Kavian Bryant, Pippin said the Panther program has a lot of players to choose from.
“I think everyone knows we have a special quarterback,” Pippin said. “We have a lot of great players and good momentum building here. Coach Anthony Weeden does a fantastic job with the offense so I want to keep him on that side with him getting better with the offense. It is a good time to be a Panther and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Pippin and wife Sally have been married for 38 years and have three daughters Natalie, Holly and Libby.
Pippin has authored two books entitled “C.H.A.O.S.” and “Deep in the Heart.”
