Insell Honored at the State Capitol

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee state senator Jim Tracy introduced Joint Resolution 169 at the State Capitol on Thursday, honoring Middle Tennessee women's basketball coach Rick Insell for his upcoming induction into the National High School Hall of Fame. Insell will become just the fourth high school coach from the state of Tennessee inducted into the national Hall of Fame on July 4 in Palm Desert, Calif.

Insell is among 12 individuals who will be inducted in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National High School Hall of Fame July 4 at the Desert Springs Marriott Hotel in Palm Desert. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be the closing event of the 88th NFHS Annual Summer Meeting. Previous Tennessee inductees include the late Jim Smiddy, the late Buck Van Huss, and the late Boyce Smith, all coaches. The late Bill Pack and most recent inductee, Billy Schrivner of Jackson, were inducted into the Hall of Fame as officials.

"It is a great honor to be recognized by your state leaders and to be singled out for the work that you do," Insell said. "I am very grateful for the time and effort Jim Tracy put into this endeavor

Insell built a dynasty at Shelbyville Central High School in Shelbyville, Tenn., guiding the Golden Eaglettes to a record 10 TSSAA state championships with an overall record of 775-148 (.840 winning percentage) during his 28-year tenure. He was hired at Shelbyville Central (Class AAA) in 1977 and spent all 28 years as head coach at the school.

The Woodbury, Tenn., native has spent the last two seasons as head coach at Middle Tennessee, compiling a 50-15 record and winning two straight Sun Belt Tournament titles. The Blue Raiders claimed the regular season Sun Belt title in 2006-07, posting a perfect 21-0 mark versus SBC opponents and earning a school-record 30 victories.

Middle Tennessee won 27 consecutive games before falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Insell was voted Sun Belt Coach of the Year this season, the first Blue Raider head coach to garner a Coach of the Year accolade since 1988. Middle Tennessee also appeared in the national rankings for the first time since 1988 and in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in school history.

Insell's high school coaching records and honors include:

• Won a Tennessee state record 10 state championships (1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004). The four consecutive titles from 1989-92 is a Tennessee state record.
• Coached Shelbyville Central to 110 consecutive wins from 1987-91, a Tennessee state record.
• Finished Runner-Up for the state championship five times (1984, 1985, 1988, 1994, 1997).
• Either won a state title or finished runner-up 15 of his 28 seasons as a head coach at Shelbyville.
• Named USA Today National Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1991.
• Named Converse National High School Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1992.
• 1990 squad was named the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Team of the Year, the first high school team so honored.
• Guided the Golden Eaglettes to 23 district championships and 16 regional championships.
• Insell has developed six Tennessee Class AAA Miss Basketball Award recipients, 15 high school All-Americans, and 57 of his players have received either athletic or academic scholarships to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
• Coached Tiffany Woosley, who was named USA Today National Player of the Year in 1990-91.
• His teams received the TSSAA Distinguished Award for Academic Success each year from 1989-00, an award based on team GPA. The lowest cumulative GPA at Shelbyville during this stretch was 3.4, with the highest 3.98.
• Was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2003.
• Received special invitation to the Oval Office by President George H.W. Bush for academic and athletic achievement, honored in the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the Tennessee State House and Senate, and by two Tennessee Governors.

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