LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Athletics announced the hiring of Ashley Ingram as its next head football coach on Tuesday. Ingram becomes the 34
th head coach in the history of the VMI program.
"I want to commend the superior efforts of Greg Otey and Lee Moon of the VMI Football Council, Director of Athletics
Jamaal Walton, Pablo Martinez, John Dodge of the Board of Governors of the VMI Keydet Club, and Admiral Terry McKnight of the VMI Board of Visitors for sacrificing much of their holiday season to conduct this very deliberate and through search to find the next leader of the VMI Football program," said Lt. Gen David Furness '87. "Coach Ingram's record of success at the Naval Academy and Carson Newman University are exceptional. Ken Niumatalolo, the longtime coach at the Naval Academy described Coach Ashley as 'by far, the best coach I had in all my years at the Naval Academy.' He will bring grit, tenacity, physical and mental toughness, and a winning attitude to our football program. He will also mold our football players into leaders in the Corps, model cadets in barracks and men of character as graduates of our beloved Institute. I look forward to getting him on Post and supporting him as he turns VMI into a winning football program in the Southern Conference."
"We are thrilled to welcome Ashley Ingram as the next head coach of VMI Football," said VMI Director of Athletics
Jamaal Walton. "Coach Ingram is committed to building a program — not just a team — that represents VMI with excellence on the field, in the classroom, on post and throughout the community. From the moment we began the process, it was evident that Coach Ingram embodies discipline, toughness, grit and a relentless competitive drive to be a champion. He is a proven winner, exceptional recruiter, developer of quality football players, and someone who sees this as a transformational opportunity to take VMI to new heights!"
"I would like to thank Lt. Gen. Furness,
Jamaal Walton and the search committee for this tremendous opportunity," Ingram said. "Our unwavering mission will be to graduate and develop men of character. We will strive daily to make everyone associated with VMI proud. The product we put on the field will be a reflection of the ideals that make VMI so special. We will be a tough, disciplined team that plays with relentless effort. My family and I are so excited to get on post and become a part of this wonderful VMI family."
Ingram spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Carson-Newman (C-N), where he posted an overall record of 16-6, going 13-4 in South Atlantic Conference play (SAC), earned an NCAA bid, and amassed the most wins by a coach in their first two seasons in program history. In 2024, Ingram inherited a team that was 5-6 the previous season, coaching the Eagles to a 9-3 record while going 7-1 in SAC play, claiming a SAC Mountain Division title and becoming the first coach in C-N history to earn an NCAA bid in his first season. Running the triple option, C-N finished fourth in the nation in rushing offense with an average of 265.8 yards per game on the ground, as two players (Jayden Sullins, Major Williams) earned All-American recognition. This past season, Ingram coached C-N to a 7-3 record, collecting wins over nationally ranked Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate in the process.
Ingram is no stranger to the military environment, spending 16 years at the United States Naval Academy in roles ranging from position coach up to assistant head coach. While at Navy, Ingram helped the Midshipmen earn 10 bowl bids, defeat Army 10 times and win six Commander-in-Chief's trophies. Considered by many to be Navy's top recruiter during his tenure, Ingram coached nine all-conference lineman, two American Conference Players of the Year and 11 Academic All-Americans. Among the players Ingram signed and coached were future NFL draft picks Keenan Reynolds (Ravens), Malcolm Perry (Dolphins) and Rayuan Lane III (Jaguars). During his time in Annapolis, the Navy offense finished in the top five nationally in rushing yards eight times in 11 years, averaging 286.3 yards per game on the ground including 2015 and 2019, in which the Midshipmen finished the season in the top 20 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls.
Prior to Navy, Ingram was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Bucknell from 2006-2007, spent six seasons at the University of Rhode Island (2000-2005), and had stops at West Alabama (1999), North Cobb High School (1998), Temple and North Alabama (graduate assistant, 1997).
An Iron City, Georgia, native, Ingram played offensive line at North Alabama, helping the team to three NCAA Division II national titles, going 41-1 and claiming the first three-peat in NCAA history (1993, 1994, 1995). Ingram earned both his bachelor's degree (1996) and master's degree (1997) in education from North Alabama.
Ingram and his wife Jenifer are the proud parents of their daughter Laura and sons James and William.
"We are excited to welcome Ashley, his wife Jenifer, their daughter Laura, and sons James and William to Lexington and Keydet Nation," Walton said. "We extend our thanks to Kingdom Coaching and the search committee comprised of Football Alumni, Keydet Club, and Board of Visitors representation for their efforts in a successful search process. Rah Virginia Mil!"
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