Chipola College


Chipola College is a public college in Marianna, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. In 2012 the school opened a $16 million 56,000 square foot center for the arts, including two theaters.

History

Founded in 1947 as Chipola Junior College, the name was changed in 2003 after the college had developed several bachelor's degree programs.

Campus

The college was named for the Chipola River, which is located less than a mile from the campus.

Academics

The college offers BSc degree programs, A.A. degrees, A.S. degrees, College Credit Certificate programs, and Workforce Development Certificates.

Student life

The Brain Bowl team has won nine state championships and three national championships under coach Stan Young and assistant coach Robert Dunkle.

Sports

The school is noted for its athletic program, which competes in the Panhandle Conference of the Florida State College Activities Association, a body of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8. The baseball program counts among its alumni former Texas Rangers manager Buck Showalter and World Baseball Classic standout Adam Loewen, Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mat Gamel, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder José Bautista, and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. The men's basketball program was once home to Auburn standout Chris Porter, Oklahoma State player Mario Boggan, Arkansas' Jesse Pate, Missouri's Stefhon Hannah, and Indiana's JaMarcus Ellis and DeAndre Thomas.
The men's basketball program has won more state basketball championships under one coach and in total than any other junior-college basketball program in Florida. In the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons it finished fifth and third in the nation, respectively, and in 2005 received its first-ever No. 1 national ranking. In 2004-05, the basketball program won state championships in both men's and women's basketball. The women's basketball team repeated its state championship in 2005-06, finishing fourth in the nation. In 2006-07, the men's and women's teams both won the state championship. To finish the 2007 season, the men's program finished 33-3 with a runner-up finish in the NJCAA National Championship game. During that season, the Indians were ranked #1 in the national poll for 10 straight weeks.

Notable alumni

AlumnusNotability
José BautistaProfessional Major League Baseball player
Marti ColeyFormer member of the Florida House of Representatives
Patrick CorbinProfessional Major League Baseball player
Adam DuvallProfessional Major League Baseball player
Mat GamelFormer professional Major League Baseball player
Mary Elizabeth LadoProfessional figure competitor
Adam LoewenFormer professional baseball player
Russell MartinProfessional Major League Baseball player
Casey MitchellProfessional Israeli Basketball Premier League basketball player
Ricky PolstonCurrent justice on the Florida Supreme Court
Chris PorterFormer professional National Basketball Association basketball player
Walker Russell, Jr.Professional National Basketball Association basketball player
Buck ShowalterProfessional Major League Baseball manager
Elam StoltzfusEnvironmental filmmaker and cinematographer with Live Oak Production Group
Darrell WilliamsProfessional Israeli Basketball Premier League basketball player
Eric YeldingFormer professional Major League Baseball player