Coach Kipp

By Michael Clarkson

From inner city Toronto to the farmlands of Michigan to helping to found the FEIA basketball program.

This has been the life of Handel Kipp, the respected coach of our girls’ national team.

“Basketball can be a way of life,” he says. “It’s brought me to so many places I thought I never could have been to.”

Kipp comes from a different upbringing than his players. Born and raised in Toronto’s inner city, he discovered that hoops was a way to make something of his career.

His teacher at Runnymede Collegiate in Toronto, Ross Murray, took Kipp under his wing and “treated me like a son. He let me in the gym anytime I wanted. I have a great relationship with him to this day.”

Then Kipp went to play at Summit Christian Academy in East Lansing, Michigan, for one year, living on a farm.

Returning to Toronto, he studied hotel management at Humber College, starting at age 20 to coach many teams, including Runnymede, a local club team, Oakwood Collegiate, a prep school in Sault Ste. Marie and Vaughan Secondary School.

In 2016, Kipp formed his own organization, Become One, an elite international women’s basketball club and grassroots development program.

After he coached at Royal Crown School in 2020-21 with Charles Hantoumakos, they became co-founders of the boys’ and girls’ hoops programs at FEIA. “We wanted to find a school with residences in a quiet setting away from the city,” he said. “Looking online for a place, we stumbled upon Fort Erie.”

This is Kipp’s sixth season at FEIA and he’s developed one of the leading schools in North America for team success while gaining post-secondary scholarships for young women.

“We’ve built something special here,” he said. “There’s a synergy created with these kids, and they all love each other.”

“He’s definitely helped players like me to develop,” said Lexee Anderson, the Falcons’ 6-7 centre who has improved to win a scholarship and NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) money to the University of Minnesota for next season.

Amelia Sow and Portia Reisen have credited Kipp with helping them blossom into prep school stars.

Kipp loves the way the girls’ game has grown over the last few years, which now includes NIL money for his players and, down the road, perhaps a chance to play in the WNBA.

Through the years, he has sent more than 100 girls to NCAA scholarships.
When evaluating potential players, Kipp looks beyond ability to character and strong academics.

“Being able to help the youth of today means the world to me,” Kipp said. “We focus a lot on development and character, on teaching our athletes to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Once you learn how to navigate through challenges, you’ll know how to navigate through life, because sports teach you so many things beyond basketball.”

Kipp is also a good recruiter – players like highly-ranked Jayla Jackson of Detroit came to FEIA this season for her grad year. “It’s all about building relationships (with players and families),” he said.

The Falcons are ranked No. 1 in Canada to start this season. They also compete against the top squads in the U.S. in the Grind Session.

They host Orangeville on Oct. 27 and The Battle of the Fort tournament Nov. 5-8.