Another Coach Leaving

[PHargis]

Wow, hiring a University Coach to coach Lebanon High School and a Hall of Famer. This is part of a news release in 2008 and gives some information about the Coach. Looks to be a return to an old stomping ground in coaching. Congrats to LHS for attracting evidently one of the top coaches in the country.

Inman, having just finished his 20th season at EKU and his 28th season as a college head coach, will be joined at the coaches’ clinic by Sutton, who just completed his sixth year as a head coach, 14th year in college coaching and over 33 years of coaching altogether.

 

 

 

The all-star festivities are being held at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn. The coaches’ clinic begins at 11 a.m. ET.

 

 

 

Inman has compiled a 480-318 record in 28 seasons of coaching women’s basketball at the collegiate level. He began the 2007-08 season as the 27th winningest active coach. Inman has been selected as the Ohio Valley Coach of the Year eight times and has led his teams to 10 regular season conference championships and six conference tournament titles. His teams have made six appearances in the NCAA Tournament and one trip to the WNIT.

 

 

 

Inman’s coaching career began in Tennessee and he is a former member of the TACA. His first high school coaching job came at Mount Juliet High School in Nashville, Tenn., and his team had enough success to fill a trophy case. In just five years, Inman led Mount Juliet to five district titles, four regional championships, three Nashville Interscholastic League titles and the 1977 Tennessee Class AAA state title. Prior to his years at Mount Juliet, Inman served as the head coach at Gallatin Junior High for four years.

 

 

 

After his years at the prep level, Inman quickly moved straight to the top job at Middle Tennessee State University. His first collegiate coaching stint was just as successful, capturing five regular season Ohio Valley Conference crowns in eight years. He was named OVC Coach of the Year three times and compiled a 161-73 record at the school. The Lady Raiders won a total of nine regular season and tournament championships during his time on the sidelines, including four consecutive regular season and tournament titles from 1983-86.

 

 

 

During his time at Eastern Kentucky, the Lady Colonels have consistently ranked among the top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference. In 2004-05, Inman earned his eighth OVC Coach of the Year honor while leading the Lady Colonels to both the conference regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

 

 

 

Under his guidance, Eastern won its first outright OVC regular season championship in 1996-97 and, in the process, established a league record for conference victories with 16 while also setting a program mark with 24 overall wins. This, coming off the heels of a share of it’s first-ever OVC title, a quad championship in 1994-95 was the beginning of the Lady Colonels’ conference success. In 1997-98, Inman added to the championship trophies at Eastern as he led the Lady Colonels to a share of the OVC title once again. In 2004 EKU captured the OVC title and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

 

 

 

Eastern’s program has been one of consistency since the 1990’s, finishing in the top half of the league in all but five seasons. Over the past 15 seasons, Eastern has an impressive record of 298-198, a .601 winning percentage and has posted six 20+ win seasons. Inman is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in Eastern Kentucky history.

[PHargis]

Exclusive article from todays Wilson Post

 

Inman to coach Devilettes

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor

 

EXCLUSIVE -- OVC Hall of Famer Larry Joe Inman was introduced earlier today as the new girls basketball coach at Lebanon High School.

 

Inman, 62, retired in April of 2008 as the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University, ending a brilliant 28-year college coaching career with 480 wins, a 60 percent winning percentage, 10 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championships, six OVC tournament titles, eight OVC Coach of the Year awards and six NCAA tournament appearances.

 

No stranger to local basketball, Inman went 126-24 (.840) as the head coach at Mt. Juliet High School (1973-1978). In just five years, Inman led the Lady Bears to five district titles, four regional championships, three Nashville Interscholastic League titles and the 1977 Tennessee Class AAA state title.

 

Inman replaces Ashley Johnson who resigned last month after two seasons on the job to pursue a doctoral fellowship.

 

Inman led Eastern Kentucky to five OVC regular-season titles and two tournament championships in 20 seasons as the Lady Colonels’ head coach. He led EKU to the only two NCAA tournament appearances in school history and ranks as Eastern’s all-time winningest basketball coach with 319 victories.

 

The Gallatin native began his collegiate coaching career at Middle Tennessee State, an OVC member until 2000. In eight years at the Murfreesboro school, Inman won more than 68 percent of his games, was named OVC Coach of the Year three times, led MTSU to six OVC regular-season championships and four tournament titles.

 

In his last four seasons on the Blue Raiders’ bench, he led the program to four straight OVC regular season and tournament championships and four straight NCAA tournament appearances.

 

He compiled an overall record of 161-73 at Middle Tennessee. Inman went 73-12 in OVC games, losing only four conference games his final five seasons.

 

Inman concludes his career with more wins as an OVC women’s basketball head coach than any other in conference history. He is one of only two coaches in OVC history to win an NCAA tournament game, garnering two victories in the Big Dance. His overall record stands at 480-317 (.602) and he posted a 277-134 (.674) mark in regular-season OVC games.

 

When Inman accepted the head coaching position at EKU, prior to the 1988-89 season, the program had only posted a winning conference record twice in the 11-year history of the OVC. After posting a 6-6 record in league games his second season, Inman led Eastern to winning conference records in 12 of the next 14 seasons.

 

Three years into his tenure, Inman became the first coach to earn the OVC Coach of the Year award at two different schools. He took home the honor in 1991 after leading Eastern Kentucky to its first winning season in six years.

 

Inman led the Lady Colonels to their first conference championship in 1995 and won his second OVC Coach of the Year award. The team won 19 games and tied with three other OVC schools for the league title. Two years later, EKU won its first outright OVC regular-season championship and, in the process, established a league record for conference victories with 16, while also setting a program mark with 24 overall wins.

 

The 1996-97 edition finished 24-6 overall and 16-2 in OVC play. The Lady Colonels defeated Tennessee Tech by four points for their first-ever OVC tournament championship and earned the program’s first trip to the NCAA tournament.

 

The following year, Inman led Eastern Kentucky to its third regular-season conference championship in four years. In 2002, EKU won its fourth conference banner and played in the WNIT. Inman led his squad to an overtime road win over Missouri State in the first round for the school’s first-ever postseason tournament victory and a trip to the WNIT Sweet 16.

 

In 2004-05, Inman earned his eighth OVC Coach of the Year honor while leading the Lady Colonels to both the conference regular-season and tournament titles, and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

 

Eastern’s program has been one of consistency since the 1990s, finishing in the top half of the league in all but five seasons. Over the past 15 seasons, Eastern has an impressive record of 298-198, a .600 winning percentage, and has posted six 20-plus win seasons.

 

In addition to remodeling two arenas with a host of championship banners, many student-athletes have earned individual honors under Inman’s guidance. At EKU and Middle Tennessee combined, 30 different players earned 52 all-conference selections during Inman’s career, including 27 first team honorees. A total of 23 players were named to the OVC all-freshman team. Inman has coached four OVC Players of the Year and three OVC Freshmen of the Year.

 

In addition to success on the court, Inman’s teams were equally successful in the classroom. With Inman leading the program, 100 percent of incoming freshmen that completed their eligibility have earned a degree.

 

Inman’s coaching career began at Gallatin Junior High in 1970 where he went 51-4 in three seasons.

 

Inman is a graduate of Austin Peay State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1970. He received his master’s degree from Tennessee State University in 1978. Inman is married to the former Bobbie Gene Follis of Shelbyville. They have one son, Jody, and two daughters, Latrice and Tiffany.

[PHargis]

Now lets see, the coincidence is close, could it be, no not a possibility but maybe. Coacht about 65, Coach Inman 62. Both were at Austin Peay about the same time. Could it be possible? Knew each other? Well maybe we'll find out sometime.

[LostTime]

I would hope that all are confidential but I also would hope that after a reasonable time that a time limit would be given. Afterall anyone who would be interested likely would have a time limit on their end also. While not official, 40? Visited and interviewed? Security Check? Offered? The issue. takes a little time and a lot of work on the interviewer side, I would say. Lots of pressure to make sure its right, this is a personnel issue that deals with some 25 student/athletes and likely teaching certifications and doing it right. The school wants it right, the AD want it right, the parents want it right and the student/athletes want it right. The community want it right. The players are in the Shelbyville Team Camp this week(three teams) and if posted correctly, have three more camps. Great organization and a great knowledge of what is going on and to have 40 applicants, the High School Coaching community appreciates the professionalism being shown by LHS on this hire. This is serious business.

 

There were 40 applicants, but not all 40 were interviewed to be sure. My guess is that 10 or less were actually interviewed for the position.

[LostTime]

After reading the Wilson Post article on Coach Inman's hiring, which was mostly a cut and paste job from the EKU press release of his retirement announcement in 2008, I thought it might be interesting to give folks just a little more information on Coach Inman's record. After going 23-8 overall, 15-1 in conference, winning the OVC regular season and tournament championships, and going to the NCAA tournament in 2004-05 things dropped off the last 3 years at EKU. During the last 3 years of his tenure EKU had records of 7-20 overall/ 7-13 OVC in 2005-06, 12-18 overall/9-11 OVC in 2006-07, and 14-14 overall/9-11 OVC in 2007-08. Final 3 years totals 33-52 overall/25-35 OVC. My guess is that he got a little tired of the recruiting grind and that might have been the reason for the drop off. With 2 years off, his batteries should be re-charged and he should be fired up and ready to go at LHS.

 

I think this is one of the most interesting hires in the mid-state in years and it will be fun to see how it all works out.

[jimbo44]

Coach Inman will make big waves in district 9AAA. Bigger waves in reg 5AAA.

He will stir things up like he did in the OVC. Great Coach, great hire.

[wingman10]

Coach Inman will make big waves in district 9AAA. Bigger waves in reg 5AAA.

He will stir things up like he did in the OVC. Great Coach, great hire.

excellent hire...glad Coach is back

[PHargis]

After reading the Wilson Post article on Coach Inman's hiring, which was mostly a cut and paste job from the EKU press release of his retirement announcement in 2008, I thought it might be interesting to give folks just a little more information on Coach Inman's record. After going 23-8 overall, 15-1 in conference, winning the OVC regular season and tournament championships, and going to the NCAA tournament in 2004-05 things dropped off the last 3 years at EKU. During the last 3 years of his tenure EKU had records of 7-20 overall/ 7-13 OVC in 2005-06, 12-18 overall/9-11 OVC in 2006-07, and 14-14 overall/9-11 OVC in 2007-08. Final 3 years totals 33-52 overall/25-35 OVC. My guess is that he got a little tired of the recruiting grind and that might have been the reason for the drop off. With 2 years off, his batteries should be re-charged and he should be fired up and ready to go at LHS.

 

I think this is one of the most interesting hires in the mid-state in years and it will be fun to see how it all works out.

To coin a phrase, it looks as if in Womens Basketball we will see the "War in Willison" format start to take place with all of the colorful Coaches and teams involved.

[Lovbasketball]

Well what can we say the AD did a great job on finding a great fit for the LHS program. It will be more than interesting to see who his coaching staff will consist of. Does anyone know who will be coaching with him? The girls will be in good hands with this hire. We all know that anyone caring about this program need to plan on being in the stands supporting these girls along with the new coaching staff. I can't say it enough how important it will be for all of us to show them support. Great job AD and administration for making Coach Inman their new head coach. Look forward to the future of LHS....

[PHargis]

This is a heartfelt post. The Coach is your coach and the thing I can see is he will try to pull the best out of every one to keep their skills up and if there is a possibility of anyone wanting to play at a higher level, he will insist on good grades and teach the skills to do it. It is going to be fun to keep up with the school from Lebanon and the girls who play there.

[jimbo44]

What does " withryone" mean? I can't find it in the dictionary.

[PHargis]

I couldn't find it either so I changed it.