| Zach Ingles played at Division I Eastern Kentucky before going overseas to play in six countries. Getty images file photo |
Olivet named Zach Ingles as its new women's basketball head coach less than 24 hours before many Division III teams began practice for the new season.
- Olivet also changes men's coach
- More MIAA coaching changes: Calvin women | Adrian men | Kalamazoo men
The move was announced by Olivet College athletic director Ryan Shockey.
“I am thrilled with Zach joining the Olivet athletic staff,” said Shockey. “He comes from a family with a lot of basketball coaching experience and I believe he will fit in nicely in our department. Zach will bring a new and exciting style of basketball to our program.”
Ingles most recently served as head varsity boys’ basketball coach at Tri County High School in Howard City (Mich.) during the 2015-16 season. While there, he led the Vikings to 13 wins, the most since 2011, and was named the Daily News Coach of the Year. Prior to that, Ingles was an assistant men’s basketball coach at Muskegon Community College from 2014-15, Grand Rapids Community College from 2011-14 and Aquinas College from 2010-11.
Ingles played two years of basketball at Pasco-Hernando State College in Dade City, Florida. He was named the 2002-03 SunCoast Conference Rookie of the Year and 2003-04 SunCoast Conference Player of the Year. Ingles then transferred to Eastern Kentucky University, and led the Colonels to an NCAA tournament appearance against the Kentucky Wildcats in 2005. He played professionally for five years in Iceland, Argentina, Slovakia, Qatar, Mexico City and Lebanon before moving into the coaching ranks.
A native of Greenville, Ingles earned a bachelor’s degree in university studies from Campbellsville (Ky.) University in 2010. He finished his career at Greenville High School with 2,130 career points, which ranks him 22nd all-time in Michigan High School Athletic Association history, while his .841 free throw shooting percentage places him fifth all-time and 254 three-pointers made is sixth.
“I am extremely humbled and excited to lead the Olivet women’s basketball program into the future,” said Ingles. “It has been my life-long dream to be a college basketball coach, and I am beyond excited that I get to begin this journey at such a great place like Olivet. I would like to thank Ryan Shockey and the committee, my wife and family for all their support, and all the former players who have helped mold me into the coach I am today. I am eager to get to work.”
Ingles’ father, Kent, has coached high school basketball in Michigan for more than 45 years and is presently the head varsity boys’ basketball coach at Big Rapids. His sister, Jessica Haist, is the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Big Rapids.
Ingles replaced Nicole Burford who left Olivet to take an assistant coaching position at Division I Oakland. Burford went 77-77 in six seasons. The Comets finished 13-13, 9-7 in the MIAA last season.