A capstone to Bob Chipman’s lengthy coaching career at Washburn came earlier this week when he was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame.
Previously, Chipman had been honored at WU when almost 100 former basketball players gathered for a banquet following the Ichabods’ last scheduled home game.
“That tribute was incredible, so that kind of finished things out for me,’’ Chipman said. “But this (MIAA enshrinement) was nice because it confirmed again I did make a difference.
‘’My life did mean something all these years trying to teach hard work, on time, do your best, good attitude … it seems like it was all worth it now.’’
Not that there won’t be future players for Chipman to advise.
That point was emphasized recently by Chipman’s daughter, Kelsey.
“You’re coaching career isn’t over yet,’’ Kelsey informed her father. “I’m pregnant with twin boys.’’
Obviously that will keep Chipman hopping, though his summers remain busy with basketball anyway.
He continues to organize camps, which have proven popular at various communities around Kansas and already begun this summer with stops in Wichita, Ulysses and Dodge City. Two KU players, Devonte’ Graham and Malik Newman, were part of that tour, along with K-State’s Dean Wade.
The Basketball Stars Camp began in the 1980s, when Chipman attracted throngs with his very first sessions.
Having Danny Manning tag along helped. As a standout for KU at the time, Manning “was more famous than the governor,’’ Chipman said. Also during that period, Chipman toured with Mitch Richmond and Steve Henson of K-State.
The operation evolved so that practically all of the best players from KU and K-State took part, and will again when the camps are offered in Topeka on June 21-22 at Seaman and June 26-27 at Hayden.
“There have been certain guys I’ve almost let run the camps over the years,’’ Chipman said. “Ryan Robertson comes to mind. Let him loose and basically introduce him and let him go.
“I think I’ve been really good at getting the KU and K-State guys involved. They really get into teaching and showing their practice routines and in certain cases they really start instructing as they get comfortable. That’s so unique, because at some places they might walk into the gym and wave and sign some autographs.’’
High school coaches also are instrumental in promoting the camps and coordinating drills.
Two coaches with ties to Chipman will be involved at the Topeka camps. Hayden coach Torrey Head once served on Chipman’s staff as a Washburn assistant. Seaman coach Craig Cox was part of the Pan American Games contingent when Chipman was an assistant for the United States gold medal squad in 1983.
“They’re responsible, they’re running the camps and that’s one of the things I want to happen with these,’’ Chipman said. “Bringing in these (college) players creates some real excitement for basketball in their area. Obviously with these players, magic happens.’’
Sometimes the magic works in just getting a boy or girl enrolled in camp.
For years a scholarship program subsidized by several Topeka area businesses, including The Capital-Journal, has helped offset costs for many campers.
“These kids come to the camp and it gives them hope,’’ Chipman said. “They start believing in themselves and it gives them confidence. I’ve seen it where it changed lives. That’s the thing I think I’m most proud of from my years at Washburn.’’
On occasion, those who benefitted from a camp scholarship returned the favor.
“I’ve had guys who came to the camp on scholarship 20, 25 years ago, who call me and want to pay for a kid to come to camp,’’ Chipman said. “They’ll want to donate. That’s how it changed their lives. I’m so proud of that.’’
See collegestarsbasketballcamps.com for information on the camp and scholarship program.
Contact Kevin Haskin at kevin.haskin@cjonline.com or @KevinHaskin on Twitter.
