Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Lipkin, Barbara Everhart
Barbara Everhart Lipkin
- Induction:
- 2024
In the early days of Lehigh women's athletics, Barbara Everhart Lipkin provided leadership and mentorship to several of Lehigh's newest athletic programs. Lipkin served as the inaugural head coach for Lehigh's volleyball, women's basketball and women's lacrosse programs, later coached the women’s tennis team, and succeeded Helen Bond Benson to become Lehigh's second Director of Women's Athletics, a position she held from 1977-1980.
“Over the years I have seen the caliber of quality people be inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame, many of whom were friends and colleagues,” Lipkin said. “To join these esteemed inductees is an honor and a privilege. Lehigh will always hold a special place in my heart, as my first job at this prestigious university helped launch my career in athletics. I have fond memories of the young talent and quality of student-athletes that I had the privilege of coaching.”
Lipkin spent six seasons as Lehigh's volleyball coach, leading the Brown and White to a 71-23 record, including an 18-2 mark in 1978 and a 24-9 record in 1979. She won 90 percent of her matches in both 1978 and 1976 (9-1) which to date still remain program bests for winning percentage.
On the basketball court, Lipkin was on the bench for Lehigh’s first two seasons and led the Brown and White to a winning season (6-4) in 1975-76.
Lipkin went 15-7 in three years as Lehigh's women's lacrosse coach including a combined 12-2 record in her first two seasons. She laid the foundation for Lehigh’s successful eight-year run from 1978-85 under Judy Turner Baxter.
In 1977, Lipkin took over for Bond Benson as Lehigh’s Director of Women’s Athletics. When Bond departed Lehigh, Lipkin also took the reins of the women’s tennis program. Under Lipkin’s leadership, Lehigh went 23-2 in her first two seasons, including a perfect 11-0 mark in 1978.
A native of Huntingdon, Pa., Lipkin is a 1970 graduate of West Chester. After graduation, Lipkin did graduate work at Penn State and served in coaching roles at Northampton Area High School as well as Penn State-Altoona prior to her arrival at Lehigh in 1974.
After an almost quarter-century career in higher education, with a focus on athletics and mentoring student-athletes, Lipkin has been retired for 17 years. She spends summers in Colorado and snowbirds outside of West Palm Beach, Fla. Lipkin remains active in athletics with weekly yoga, tennis, and walks, and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
After 41 years of marriage, Lipkin lost her husband, Phil, who was CEO/owner of Lipkin’s Furniture in Easton, Pa. Lipkin is incredibly proud of her family’s accomplishments. Her son Jeff is Area Vice President of Physical Rehabilitation Network (PRN), and her daughter, Andrea, serves as Assistant Dean in the CU-Denver Business School. Jeff found the love of his life, Alaina, in the west while Andrea found her perfect match in east coast husband, Drew, from Bethlehem. As a grandmother, Lipkin’s calendar fills up quickly in the summer with family activities, especially with her grandchildren Trevor and Julia (Jeff and Alaina’s children) and Andrea and Drew’s daughter Mackenzie.
“Over the years I have seen the caliber of quality people be inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame, many of whom were friends and colleagues,” Lipkin said. “To join these esteemed inductees is an honor and a privilege. Lehigh will always hold a special place in my heart, as my first job at this prestigious university helped launch my career in athletics. I have fond memories of the young talent and quality of student-athletes that I had the privilege of coaching.”
Lipkin spent six seasons as Lehigh's volleyball coach, leading the Brown and White to a 71-23 record, including an 18-2 mark in 1978 and a 24-9 record in 1979. She won 90 percent of her matches in both 1978 and 1976 (9-1) which to date still remain program bests for winning percentage.
On the basketball court, Lipkin was on the bench for Lehigh’s first two seasons and led the Brown and White to a winning season (6-4) in 1975-76.
Lipkin went 15-7 in three years as Lehigh's women's lacrosse coach including a combined 12-2 record in her first two seasons. She laid the foundation for Lehigh’s successful eight-year run from 1978-85 under Judy Turner Baxter.
In 1977, Lipkin took over for Bond Benson as Lehigh’s Director of Women’s Athletics. When Bond departed Lehigh, Lipkin also took the reins of the women’s tennis program. Under Lipkin’s leadership, Lehigh went 23-2 in her first two seasons, including a perfect 11-0 mark in 1978.
A native of Huntingdon, Pa., Lipkin is a 1970 graduate of West Chester. After graduation, Lipkin did graduate work at Penn State and served in coaching roles at Northampton Area High School as well as Penn State-Altoona prior to her arrival at Lehigh in 1974.
After an almost quarter-century career in higher education, with a focus on athletics and mentoring student-athletes, Lipkin has been retired for 17 years. She spends summers in Colorado and snowbirds outside of West Palm Beach, Fla. Lipkin remains active in athletics with weekly yoga, tennis, and walks, and enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
After 41 years of marriage, Lipkin lost her husband, Phil, who was CEO/owner of Lipkin’s Furniture in Easton, Pa. Lipkin is incredibly proud of her family’s accomplishments. Her son Jeff is Area Vice President of Physical Rehabilitation Network (PRN), and her daughter, Andrea, serves as Assistant Dean in the CU-Denver Business School. Jeff found the love of his life, Alaina, in the west while Andrea found her perfect match in east coast husband, Drew, from Bethlehem. As a grandmother, Lipkin’s calendar fills up quickly in the summer with family activities, especially with her grandchildren Trevor and Julia (Jeff and Alaina’s children) and Andrea and Drew’s daughter Mackenzie.
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