from Mike Organ, Tennessean:
...Combined with his 775 wins at Shelbyville High, Insell needs just one more victory to reach 1,000 for his career.
Win No. 999 came Saturday when the No. 23 Lady Raiders beat UAB 68-58 in their final regular-season home game. It also gave MTSU its sixth consecutive conference regular-season title (five in the Sun Belt, one in Conference USA).
"So many people told me when I got the Middle Tennessee State job that you couldn't take what you did at the (high school) level," Insell said. "I was thinking, 'Why can't you?' I mean, it's still basketball. We're not going to re-invent the game. We're going to teach defense, we're going to have a structured offense. That's what we did at Shelbyville and it's what we've done at Middle Tennessee, and we've had some success."
Insell's success is rare.....
...Unfortunately, Insell's 1,000 wins won't be recognized by the NCAA or the TSSAA because they were not all reached on either level.
Recognition for such a rare accomplishment is merited and there is some behind-the-scenes rumblings that a presentation might be made during the NCAA Women's Final Four, which will be April 6-8 at Bridgestone Arena.
Insell already is one of only six Tennesseans in the National High School Hall of Fame. He's also in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the TSSAA Hall of Fame.
It's a shame that neither governing body has a way to recognize Insell in a more permanent way but fortunate that the Final Four is here this year.
"There are so few coaches who have won 1,000 games, and some kind of recognition should be made for what coach Insell has accomplished," said Tiffany Woosley, who played for Insell at Shelbyville (1988-91) and then went on to play at Tennessee and in the WNBA. "He knows the game, teaches the game, has the ability to sell the program and has represented his institution like no other. He is a great ambassador for basketball on any level. Not only does he win games, he wins at teaching each individual about character, and I carry these things with me every day ? work hard, help others, dream big."
MTSU plans to honor Insell with a fundraiser and possibly a roast in October to tip off the 2014-15 season.
Insell's current contract will last until he's 68, and he plans to coach beyond that.
"If I've still got good health and enjoy what I'm doing, and I do enjoy what I'm doing, I'd probably go until I'm about 70 years old," he said. "I don't know that I would go any longer; I might, but I doubt it." .....
This post was edited on 3/2 8:03 AM by SpaceRaider
Rick Insell nears 1,000 wins with MT, Shelbyvill
...Combined with his 775 wins at Shelbyville High, Insell needs just one more victory to reach 1,000 for his career.
Win No. 999 came Saturday when the No. 23 Lady Raiders beat UAB 68-58 in their final regular-season home game. It also gave MTSU its sixth consecutive conference regular-season title (five in the Sun Belt, one in Conference USA).
"So many people told me when I got the Middle Tennessee State job that you couldn't take what you did at the (high school) level," Insell said. "I was thinking, 'Why can't you?' I mean, it's still basketball. We're not going to re-invent the game. We're going to teach defense, we're going to have a structured offense. That's what we did at Shelbyville and it's what we've done at Middle Tennessee, and we've had some success."
Insell's success is rare.....
...Unfortunately, Insell's 1,000 wins won't be recognized by the NCAA or the TSSAA because they were not all reached on either level.
Recognition for such a rare accomplishment is merited and there is some behind-the-scenes rumblings that a presentation might be made during the NCAA Women's Final Four, which will be April 6-8 at Bridgestone Arena.
Insell already is one of only six Tennesseans in the National High School Hall of Fame. He's also in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the TSSAA Hall of Fame.
It's a shame that neither governing body has a way to recognize Insell in a more permanent way but fortunate that the Final Four is here this year.
"There are so few coaches who have won 1,000 games, and some kind of recognition should be made for what coach Insell has accomplished," said Tiffany Woosley, who played for Insell at Shelbyville (1988-91) and then went on to play at Tennessee and in the WNBA. "He knows the game, teaches the game, has the ability to sell the program and has represented his institution like no other. He is a great ambassador for basketball on any level. Not only does he win games, he wins at teaching each individual about character, and I carry these things with me every day ? work hard, help others, dream big."
MTSU plans to honor Insell with a fundraiser and possibly a roast in October to tip off the 2014-15 season.
Insell's current contract will last until he's 68, and he plans to coach beyond that.
"If I've still got good health and enjoy what I'm doing, and I do enjoy what I'm doing, I'd probably go until I'm about 70 years old," he said. "I don't know that I would go any longer; I might, but I doubt it." .....
This post was edited on 3/2 8:03 AM by SpaceRaider
Rick Insell nears 1,000 wins with MT, Shelbyvill
