Zipp attended O'Dea High School in Seattle, Washington where he was a four-year varsity letterman on the boys' soccer team.
Additionally, Parade Magazine selected Zipp as a high school All-American soccer player in 1980 and 1981.
Seattle was largely stocked with ex-NASL players put out of work by the disintegration of the NASL.
Seattle joined with several other independent west coast clubs to form the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA).
[3] Since retiring from playing professionally, Zipp has remained active as a youth soccer referee.