Ingram to be enshrined into Hall Of Fame
The Lookout Sports Editor Brodee Gillam recently spoke with LCC Men's Basketball Coach Mike Ingram. The LCC and CMU alum was recently named a 2017 inductee for the NJCAA Hall of Fame. He has spent nearly 30 years coaching at LCC and also was a standout player for the Stars while he was a student.
Why did you begin playing basketball?
"We played everything when we were young. Playgrounds were really big at that time so we did it all, and we did it all every day during the summer. We played baseball in the morning, football in the afternoon and basketball and horseshoes, you name it. … Basketball just became the sport that I kind of fell in love with."
How did you react to hearing the news that you were inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame?
"I was stunned, there was no doubt about it. I was speechless. I was coming back from a game with a friend. I would even say I was a little emotional for a minute; it was hard to talk. They didn't want me to tell anybody. I was with Terry (Harris), my longtime assistant … I did tell him because we were together and we've been such good friends for such a long time. Then we rode in silence for about 10 to 15 minutes while I let it soak in."
Being involved in so many great moments as a player and a coach, what is your most memorable moment from LCC basketball?
"I have so many of them, but I think my favorite one was just being hired here as an assistant and then as the head coach. … Growing up on the playgrounds, you always have a playground director. There was always a person that gave a lot to the kids, and then I found myself in the situation of being able (to be) someone similar. … So I would say just being hired here has always been a big thing to me and it still is. I still feel the same way 30 years later; 27 years later as the head coach, as I did when I first got the job. Nothing has changed, I still enjoy this job as much as I did when I first took it."
What made you come back and want to coach at LCC after being a player and going to CMU?
"I always had (a) great relationship with (former LCC Coach) Art Frank. I came back, got married and I had some great jobs, but I don't think they were my destiny … And Art always thought that I was going to be a good coach one day, and I came in and was talking to him one day and next thing I know I was one of his assistants."
What do you think has been the most essential factor to your success as head coach?
"I have always had great players. I came in with the idea that I was going to make LCC a place to play for the kids from Lansing and I did that. … I've gotten a couple younger assistants and, even Terry, have made me go with some kids outside of the city and it's really worked for us. … I've always had great assistant coaches that believe in what I believe in. I think we've stayed with the same things that we've done, and just tweaked them a little bit every year I've been here. We haven't changed anything. It's really funny with fans that have seen us play, they know all our plays. Even the other coaches know them. Even my players (will) be saying, 'Coach they know what's coming' and I say, 'Well everybody knows what's coming, they still have to stop it.' I take great joy in watching the fans when I call a play and the guys don't run it right and you can look in the stands and see 15 to 16 people grab their head and put their hands in the air like 'Don't they know that play?'"
What do you want the players to take away from their time here?
"Having success helps them in the job market when they're applying for jobs. I think when people see that they've been on a championship team, they know that here's a guy who knows about a team environment; here's someone who knows how to win; here's somebody who knows how to work hard because you can't be a champion without that. That is going to help them get jobs. Employers want people with great character and people that have been champions. Champions breed champions in the job world."