Bill Tripp

Position: Offensive Tackles Alma Mater: Bridgeport (1970)

Bill Tripp was named to Rich Ellerson's initial Army coaching staff in January 2009. He served as an assistant coach under Ellerson at Cal Poly from 2005-08, his second stint with the Mustangs. He coached the defensive line in 2007 and returned to the offensive front in 2008, working primarily with the Mustangs' tackles. Tripp handles offensive tackle duties at West Point.

Working with Army's offensive tackles, Tripp was vital in putting together the offensive front that paved the way for the 16th-best rushing offense in the nation and allowed the third-fewest sacks among the nation's 120 NCAA FBS squads in 2009.

In 2010, Tripp's charges helped pave the way for the nation's eighth ranked rushing offense. Black Knight quarterbacks continued to be among the best protected in the nation as Army again ranked third in the country in fewest sacks allowed per game.

Tripp served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly for 10 seasons (1989-98) under head coaches Lyle Setencich, Andre Patterson and Larry Welsh, before assuming a stint in the professional ranks. With the Mustangs, Tripp's linemen were integral parts of several prolific offenses The 1994 squad led the American West Conference with 390 yards of total offense per game and set 13 school records. The next year, Cal Poly ranked secon in the nation in both total offense (495.5) passing offense (344.9). In 1997, the Mustangs, averaged more than 455 yards of total offense and had a pair of running backs reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

Tripp departed Cal Poly in 1999, joining the staff of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League, then served one year at the University of Nevada in 2000 before returning to the SaberCats for five seasons (2001-05). During his tenure in San Jose, Tripp helped the SaberCats to two Arena Bowl championships (2002, 2004). Tripp returned to Cal Poly to serve under Ellerson in the summer of 2005 and assisted with the defensive line.

Prior to his first stint with the Mustangs, Tripp shouldered duties as head coach at Canyon del Oro High School in Arizona for two seasons (1987-88). He was offensive line coach at Boise State University for five years (1982-86) and held a similar position at the University of Idaho from 1978 to 1981.

A native of nearby Newburgh, N.Y., Tripp lettered three years at offensive guard at the University of Bridgeport, earning all-conference honors as a senior. A three-year starter, he received a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Bridgeport in 1970. He went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Arizona in 1971.

Tripp began his coaching career as an assistant at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Ariz., from 1971 to 1972 before serving a three-year stint as the school's head coach from 1973 to 1975. One of Tripp's players at Salpointe was none other than Ellerson, then a fullback and linebacker at Salpointe in the early 1970s. Tripp also served as head coach at Sahuarita High School from 1976 to 1977.

Tripp and his wife, Paula, have one daughter, Jennifer, and twin granchildren, Otis and Ameilia. Tripp and his wife reside at West Point.