CANTON, Ga. - On Friday evening, Kennesaw State men's basketball coach Tony Ingle was inducted into the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame at the First Baptist Church of Canton.
In front of a crowd that neared 1,000, Ingle was joined in attendance by his family, Kennesaw State Athletic Director Dr. Dave Waples and NBA scout Bob Reinhardt. Included in his well-wishers were his former coaches from his high school and college playing days as well as former players.
"Without question this is one of the proudest times of my life," said Ingle. "To be recognized by the Cherokee County Hall of Fame Committee is an honor that I am truly humbled to receive."
Longtime friend and current assistant coach Ron Smith introduced Ingle to the crowd and delighted the audience with a list of Ingle's numerous accomplishments as a both a player and a coach.
Ingle's acceptance speech was delivered with no notes. He stated "I have no notes tonight because everything I feel and want to say is locked in my heart."
The 12-minute long speech ran the gamut of emotions as he humbly thanked everyone from his past coaches and players to administrators who had given him the opportunity to coach and concluding with a heartfelt and tearful thanks to his family and specifically his wife Jeanne.
Ingle, who is the only coach in the state of Georgia to be recognized as high school, junior college and NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, led Cherokee County to its only appearance in the state championship game in 1982.
The 2009 Enshrinement Banquet featured Ingle, along with four other inductees including former Cherokee County football coach Danny Cronic, six-time Georgia state wrestling champion Benny Fitzgerald, Cherokee HS football and baseball star Bobby Fitzgerald and Georgia School for the Deaf All-American football player John Milford in the seventh class of inductees.