Dee Stokes, of Stokes Basketball Consulting Firm, helped facilitate the national search.
Hall of Fame Coach Larry Joe Inman brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Tennessee State with 30 years of coaching experience under his belt.
Inman, who was inducted into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2009, served as head coach of the Eastern Kentucky women's basketball team from 1988-2008, compiling a 319-244 record and leading the Lady Colonels to two OVC Tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances (1996-97, 2004-05).
In being named OVC Coach of the Year eight times, he also directed EKU to five OVC regular season championships. He also led the Lady Colonels to the 2002 WNIT Sweet Sixteen. He is the all-time winningest coach in Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball history with his record of 480-317.
Inman announced his retirement from Eastern Kentucky in April 2008. Prior to his retirement, Inman was the 27th winningest active coach in NCAA Division I.
"Coach Inman brings a wealth of knowledge and success in women's basketball," said Phillips. "We know what he can do and expect to see positive changes immediately. Also, he knows the area, he knows the conference and he knows TSU. He will hit the ground running."
The Gallatin, Tennessee, native began his collegiate coaching career at Middle Tennessee State, an OVC member until 2000. In eight years at the Murfreesboro, Tenn., school, Inman won more than 68 percent of his games, was named OVC Coach of the Year three times, led MTSU to six OVC regular-season championships and won four tournament titles. In his last four seasons on the Blue Raiders' bench, he led the program to four straight OVC regular season and tournament championships and four straight NCAA tournament appearances.
He compiled an overall record of 161-73 at Middle Tennessee. Inman went 73-12 in OVC games, losing only four conference games his final five seasons.
"I'm extremely excited about this opportunity at TSU," commented Inman. "I'm looking forward to building a program that the university, community, fans and TSU family will be proud of."
When Inman accepted the head coaching position at EKU, prior to the 1988-89 season, the program had only posted a winning conference record twice in the 11-year history of the OVC. After posting a 6-6 record in league games his second season, Inman led Eastern to winning conference records in 12 of the next 14 seasons.
Three years into his tenure, Inman became the first coach to earn the OVC Coach of the Year award at two different schools. He took home the honor in 1991 after leading Eastern Kentucky to its first winning season in six years.
Inman led the Lady Colonels to their first conference championship in 1995 and won his second OVC Coach of the Year award. The team won 19 games and tied with three other OVC schools for the league title. Two years later, EKU won its first outright OVC regular-season championship and, in the process, established a league record for conference victories with 16, while also setting a program mark with 24 overall wins.
The 1996-97 edition finished 24-6 overall and 16-2 in OVC play. The Lady Colonels defeated Tennessee Tech by four points for their first-ever OVC tournament championship and earned the program's first trip to the NCAA tournament.
The following year, Inman led Eastern Kentucky to its third regular-season conference championship in four years. In 2002, EKU won its fourth conference banner and played in the WNIT.
In 2004-05, Inman earned his eighth OVC Coach of the Year honor while leading the Lady Colonels to both the conference regular-season and tournament titles, and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
Inman's coaching career began at Gallatin Junior High in 1970 where he went 51-4 in three seasons. From 1973-78, he went 126-24 (.840) as the head coach at Mount Juliet High School in Nashville. In just five years, Inman led Mount Juliet to five district titles, four regional championships, three Nashville Interscholastic League titles and the 1977 Tennessee Class AAA state title.
He has coached at Lebanon High for the past two seasons.
Inman is a graduate of Austin Peay State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1970. He received his master's degree from Tennessee State University in 1978. Inman is married to the former Bobbie Gene Follis of Shelbyville, Tennessee. They have one son, Jody, and two daughters, Latrice and Tiffany. They also have five grandchildren, Ashlyn, Hailey, Jackson, Austin and Brooklyn.
THE LARRY JOE INMAN FILEFULL NAME: Larry Joe Inman
HOMETOWN: Gallatin, Tenn.
ALMA MATER: Austin Peay State University, 1970 (Tennessee State University, 1978)
SPOUSE: Bobbie Gene
CHILDREN: Jody, Latrice, Tiffany
GRANDCHILDREN: Ashlyn, Hailey, Jackson, Austin, Brooklyn
COACHING CAREER:
Lebanon High (2010-12) - Head Coach
Eastern Kentucky (1988-2008) - Head Coach
Middle Tennessee (1978-86) - Head Coach
Mount Juliet (1973-78) - Head Coach
Gallatin High (1970-73) - Head Coach
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
Six NCAA Tournament Appearances
2002 WNIT "Sweet Sixteen"
Eight OVC Coach of the Year honors
Six OVC Tournament Championships
10 OVC Regular Season Championships
Ranked 27th Among Active NCAA Division I coaches prior to retirement in 2008
Most OVC coaching wins in conference history
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VISIT: TSUTIGERS.COM
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