Last evening, I was reading the sports section of our local paper, and I was shocked when the article mentioned that a friend of mine, Coach Tony Ingle (BYU, Kennesaw State, Dalton State), had passed away from Covid back in January. I don’t know how I ever missed that news–although Coach and I hadn’t talked for months… I sat back in my chair and felt numb.
Coach and I enjoyed a fun friendship for almost 24 years. We exchanged many emails over the years detailing our lives and what we were doing. I always told Coach that I was his biggest fan and I meant it! Let me explain.
I first met Coach when I was serving as President of the Utah Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Coach had just been let go by BYU and, as I later found out, was at a low point in his life. I was greeting people at the door at our monthly meeting, which was open to the public–especially aspiring speakers. Up walks Coach Ingle and introduces himself to me. I said, “I know who you are Coach.” I was a U of U graduate and fan, but I considered Coach a great basketball mind, and I thought that BYU had made an epic mistake in letting him go… At any rate, Coach said, “I want to be a professional speaker.” I started to laugh as I replied, “You already are a professional speaker Coach! I heard you deliver a speech last year and almost died of a stroke from laughing! However, I believe you are also a great basketball coach! I’m sorry about what just happened to you. I think you are going to do amazing things in the world of college basketball in the years to come. I want you to know, that I’m going to be watching from the sidelines as your biggest fan!” (I really meant those words.) He graciously thanked me for my “kind words” and entered the room as I continued to greet guests.
I thought nothing of that encounter until a few years later. I was going through my mail and noticed a big, yellow envelope. I pulled it from the pile. It was from Kennesaw State University in Georgia. I opened the envelope and found a sheet of official, athletic department stationery. On it was this hand-written note: “Dear Mark, I love you more than you love me. Thank you for believing in me when I had ceased to believe in myself. Kind words give courage to the heart and fire to the soul. Your friend always, Coach Tony Ingle” I thought back on our brief encounter and was amazed that my few words had meant so much to him. Well, I did follow the career of Coach and periodically talked with him via email. I saw him win a national championship, take Kennesaw State to D1 status, and move on to Dalton State–and another championship! Over the years, Coach and I sent each other fun, motivational items–we both enjoyed that sort of thing. I treasure the copy of his book he sent me with a wonderful note written inside. In late 2020, he sent me a video of a motivational, locker-room speech he had been invited to deliver to a high school, basketball team. It came with this message: “Mark this is just for you. Please don’t share it with others. I just wanted to show you that I’m still motivating young people.” (I’m so happy that I have saved that video.) And what a motivator Coach Ingle was (IS!).
I’m sure Coach is firing up the heavenly hosts right now! I’m blessed that my path crossed that of Coach Tony Ingle so many years ago, and I’m thankful for how he has inspired my life. I am a better man for having associated with Coach Tony Ingle. I know there are thousands more out there who feel as I do.
“When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow