Clipfell had a lot of coaching experience before coming to WMU. He started his coaching career at Colon High School where he posted a 185-65 record in his 11 seasons at the school. He then moved on to coach Glen Oaks Community College and posted a 58-35 record in his three years as head coach. Finally, before coming to WMU Clipfell was an assistant at Eastern Michigan University for five years.
When Clipfell came to WMU he inherited a women’s basketball team in rough shape that was losing a lot of games. In his first year as head coach his team went 11-20 with a 6-10 Mid-American Conference record.