Randy Gipson, named to be the women’s basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State University on Monday, has decided to remain the head coach at Northeastern State University, he announced Tuesday evening.

Gipson has been the head coach at NSU for the past 13 seasons. Gipson contacted Northwest Tuesday citing family and his loyalty to Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla., as reasons for staying.

“I’m deeply sorry for any heartache caused at Northwest Missouri State,” Gipson said. “I have retracted my commitment to Northwest, and it in no way reflects negative feelings toward the university. It was too hard to break away from a place my family and I have called home for 13 years, and we came to the conclusion that this wasn’t the right time to separate from Northeastern State.”

Director of Athletics Wren Baker will resume the search for the next women’s head coach immediately.

“We are disappointed that Coach Gipson will not be serving as the head coach of our women’s basketball program but respect his decision to stay at Northeastern State,” Baker said. “We know this is a wonderful job at a great university and we’ll find the right fit.”

— NWMSU Sports Information —