Tony Ingle
Encyclopedia
Tony Ingle is an American
college basketball
coach, most recently for the men's basketball team at Kennesaw State University
in Georgia
.
His collegiate career began at Dalton Junior College
. In each of his two years at the school, the Roadrunners won the state and regional championships for junior colleges. Ingle finished his playing career at Huntingdon College
in Montgomery, Alabama
.
, he returned to Georgia, where he coached at three different high schools.
His college coaching career began at Gordon College
in Barnesville, Georgia. He was tasked with re-starting a basketball program that had been dormant for over a decade. Ingle built a winning program at Gordon; posting a record of 61-32 in three seasons at the school. In his final season, Ingle led the Hilltoppers to the NJCAA Region XVII championship game. In 1988, he took the head coaching job at the University of Alabama - Huntsville. The team posted a 10-18 record, but it was actually an improvement over the previous three seasons, when UAH won just 16 total games.
Ingle entered the world of Division I college basketball in 1989, when he joined Roger Reid
's staff at Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah
. Ingle served as an assistant under Reid for seven seasons. During that time, BYU saw tremendous success on the basketball court: the Cougars won five WAC
championships and made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament. However, the program crashed early in the 1996-97 season. The team was decimated by injuries, and several key players left the school. After starting the season with a 1-6 record, Reid was fired, and Ingle took over as interim head coach. BYU didn't win another game the rest of the season, posting an 0-18 record under Ingle.
In the off-season, BYU hired Steve Cleveland
as the new head coach for the basketball team, leaving Ingle without a job. He found part-time work as a scout for the Utah Jazz
of the NBA, and also did some sports color commentary for the Mountain West Conference
. But he always wanted to return to coaching, and he found a great opportunity in 2000 when a friend from the coaching community alerted him about a coaching vacancy at Kennesaw State University
.
Kennesaw's basketball team had struggled for many seasons, and Ingle was hired to turn the program around. He did just that, and very quickly. In 2002-03, the Owls set a school record by winning 25 games, and they made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament. The following season was even better, as KSU captured the Division II national championship with Ingle leading the way.
In 2005-06, the Owls transitioned to Division I basketball. The team joined the Atlantic Sun Conference
and struggled through several up-and-down seasons. Early in the 2010-11 season, the team achieved its biggest win ever as a Division I program, posting an 80-63 upset victory over Georgia Tech. However, KSU finished the year with a disappointing 8-23 record, and Ingle was fired. In addition to losing many games, the team had struggled to meet NCAA academic standards, which ultimately led to Ingle's dismissal.
.
In his childhood, Ingle endured five surgeries to repair a facial deformity.
In 2009, he co-authored a book about his life entitled "I Don't Mind Hitting the Bottom, I Just Hate Dragging".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach, most recently for the men's basketball team at Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Playing career
Ingle was a star player at North Whitfield High School in Georgia. He played varsity all four seasons and earned MVP honors for the team in both his junior and senior years. In his final season (1971), he was named First Team All-Tri State Squad by the Chattanooga Free Press.His collegiate career began at Dalton Junior College
Dalton State College
Dalton State College, also referred to as DSC or Dalton State, is one of eight state colleges in the University System of Georgia; it is also one of four University System units with a Technical Division supervised by the separate Technical College System of Georgia...
. In each of his two years at the school, the Roadrunners won the state and regional championships for junior colleges. Ingle finished his playing career at Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College, founded in 1854, is a coeducational liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Related to the United Methodist Church, the college's central hallmarks are faith, wisdom, and service. The college is known for providing a solid academic experience based on good...
in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
.
Coaching career
Ingle's coaching career began before his playing career was over. He coached local youth teams during his time as a student at Huntingdon College. After graduating with a degree in physical educationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, he returned to Georgia, where he coached at three different high schools.
His college coaching career began at Gordon College
Gordon College
Gordon College may refer to:* Gordon College , a public college in Barnesville, Georgia* Gordon College , a Christian college in Wenham, Massachusetts* Gordon College , a Christian college in Rawalpindi, Pakistan...
in Barnesville, Georgia. He was tasked with re-starting a basketball program that had been dormant for over a decade. Ingle built a winning program at Gordon; posting a record of 61-32 in three seasons at the school. In his final season, Ingle led the Hilltoppers to the NJCAA Region XVII championship game. In 1988, he took the head coaching job at the University of Alabama - Huntsville. The team posted a 10-18 record, but it was actually an improvement over the previous three seasons, when UAH won just 16 total games.
Ingle entered the world of Division I college basketball in 1989, when he joined Roger Reid
Roger Reid
Roger Reid is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach for Southern Utah University men's basketball team. He was head coach at Brigham Young University from 1989 to 1996, assistant coach for the NBA's Phoenix Suns, and played for former NBA coach Dick Motta at Weber State...
's staff at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Ingle served as an assistant under Reid for seven seasons. During that time, BYU saw tremendous success on the basketball court: the Cougars won five WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
championships and made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament. However, the program crashed early in the 1996-97 season. The team was decimated by injuries, and several key players left the school. After starting the season with a 1-6 record, Reid was fired, and Ingle took over as interim head coach. BYU didn't win another game the rest of the season, posting an 0-18 record under Ingle.
In the off-season, BYU hired Steve Cleveland
Steve Cleveland
Steve Cleveland is a former American college basketball coach and the former men's head basketball coach at Fresno State, Brigham Young University, and Fresno City College. During his tenure at Fresno State, Cleveland directed the largest Academic Progress Rate improvement in the nation...
as the new head coach for the basketball team, leaving Ingle without a job. He found part-time work as a scout for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA, and also did some sports color commentary for the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
. But he always wanted to return to coaching, and he found a great opportunity in 2000 when a friend from the coaching community alerted him about a coaching vacancy at Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta...
.
Kennesaw's basketball team had struggled for many seasons, and Ingle was hired to turn the program around. He did just that, and very quickly. In 2002-03, the Owls set a school record by winning 25 games, and they made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament. The following season was even better, as KSU captured the Division II national championship with Ingle leading the way.
In 2005-06, the Owls transitioned to Division I basketball. The team joined the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
and struggled through several up-and-down seasons. Early in the 2010-11 season, the team achieved its biggest win ever as a Division I program, posting an 80-63 upset victory over Georgia Tech. However, KSU finished the year with a disappointing 8-23 record, and Ingle was fired. In addition to losing many games, the team had struggled to meet NCAA academic standards, which ultimately led to Ingle's dismissal.
Personal
Ingle and his wife Jeanne are parents to five children, including three sons who are also involved in college basketball. Ingle and his wife also have five grandchildren. Ingle is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traces its current dispensation beginnings to Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830 in Western New York. Initial converts were drawn to the church in part because of the newly published Book of Mormon, a self-described chronicle of indigenous American...
.
In his childhood, Ingle endured five surgeries to repair a facial deformity.
In 2009, he co-authored a book about his life entitled "I Don't Mind Hitting the Bottom, I Just Hate Dragging".