Dalton State College's national champion men's basketball coach, Tony Ingle, is retiring effective Wednesday, the school announced in a release Monday night. Assistant coach Alex Ireland will be the interim coach while a national search is conducted.
Ingle, 66, who went 134-33 in his five years directing the start-up program, with the 2015 NAIA Division I title in the Roadrunners' first year or eligibility, also guided Kennesaw State to an NCAA Division II championship during his 44-year career after playing for Dalton Junior College. He was a four-time national coach of the year.
"I'm the luckiest man in the world to get to coach at my alma mater," Ingle said in the release. "It was an honor to get to coach the Dalton State Roadrunners."
Since June 2017 he has been bishop of the Dalton ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and despite a 25-9 record last season he said, "I just can't put my full heart into basketball coaching at this time."
"Tony Ingle is and always will be part of the soul of Dalton State's basketball program," school president Dr. Margaret Venable said. "He is so much more than a coach. He is a mentor, a motivator and a friend. He has touched the lives of countless young men and inspired anyone who meets him.
"We won't say goodbye to Tony and his family, because they will always be a part of the Roadrunner team."
Ingle, who coached at Brigham Young University in NCAA Division I before overseeing Kennesaw State's ascent to college basketball's top level, said he's looking forward to spending more time with wife Jeanne and their five children and five grandchildren, as well as building on his popularity as a motivational speaker.
"What an honor to work beside Tony Ingle," Dalton State athletic director Jon Jaudon said. "He has demonstrated over a 44-year career a determination and commitment to make a difference - a difference on the basketball court through the many victories, in the lives of his players through the sessions he taught and to anyone within the sound of his voice.
"This decision, I know, was a hard one, but I truly believe Tony wants the opportunity to reach even more people, in order to make a difference. The game of basketball has been blessed to have Tony Ingle make a difference, and many more will now have that chance as well."