INDIANAPOLIS - Gallaudet University Athletic Hall of Famer
Brian Bippus, '93, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame here Wednesday, March 20. He is one of 17 members of the Hall's 62nd men's induction class, and the first deaf person ever to be inducted into the Hall.
"This is a humbling honor to be selected into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in the best basketball state in the country," said Bippus during his induction speech. "I am proud to represent the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) and be the first ISD alumni to be inducted into this hall of fame. I have been blessed to have wonderful coaches that cared for me and my teammates during my time in high school. I want to share this honor with all of my teammates and classmates from ISD. Thank you all!"
Bippus, a 1987 graduate of Indiana School for the Deaf, played junior varsity basketball for one year and varsity basketball for three. He scored 1,152 points in three years. During his senior year alone, he scored 21.5 points per game, and had 15.4 rebounds per game. His rebound total and average was the highest of any high school player in basketball-crazed Indiana. He also supported his teammates with 87 assists, 59 steals, and 52 blocks.
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Bippus won numerous local, state, and national recognitions, including most valuable player for ISD twice, National Association of the Deaf Broadcaster All-American First Team twice, and National Fraternal Society of the Deaf All-American First Team twice and Player of the Year in 1987. The American Athletic Association of the Deaf, now the USA Deaf Sports Federation, also named him their Player of the Year the same year. He was named Player of the Week by the Indianapolis ABC Television affiliate, and was selected to the Indianapolis Star All-City team.
Bippus was inducted into the Indiana School for the Deaf Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Gallaudet Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. His Gallaudet citation says that he "graduated as the all-time leading scorer for men's basketball with 1,882 points." He played four years (1987-91) for the Buff and Blue as the Bison began their 20-year membership in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC). Bippus became the first Bison to earn All-CAC honors as he was picked for the first team during the 1990-91 season. The three-time team captain also excelled in the classroom and became Gallaudet's first-ever Academic All-American when he was named to the 1990-91 second team. He also earned All-District II first team honors. He still holds the CAC single-game record for free throws made with 21 against Catholic University of America on January 26, 1991.
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Bippus is also a five-time Deaflympian, in three different sports – basketball in 1989 and 2005, men's volleyball in 1993 and 1997, and team handball in 2001. He won two gold medals in basketball, a silver medal in volleyball, and a bronze medal in team handball.
Bippus is coordinator of operations at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. He and his wife,
Joan Virgadaula Bippus, '97, also a Clerc Center employee, have a daughter and two sons. Both sons are current Gallaudet students.
Zachary Bippus completed his first year on the Gallaudet men's basketball team during the 2023-24 season.
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