The University of Delaware officially introduced its new men’s basketball coach Wednesday
New UD athletic director Christine Rawak welcomed the 37 year old Martin Inglesby to Newark.
"Simply, he is the right guy, at the right time, at the right university," Rawak told a crowd of UD staff and supporters gather at the Bob Carpenter Center for the announcement.
Rawak said two weeks ago when she came on board that finding a new hoop coach was a priority, and she says she’s confident she got her first big call right
“It’s simply a great day. I slept really well last night. Let’s just leave it at that,” said Rawak.
Ingelsby has been on former UD head coach Mike Brey’s staff at Notre Dame for 13 years – the last seven as an assistant coach. He also played for Brey as a senior point guard with the Fighting Irish.
His connection to Brey, who took the Blue Hens to two NCAA tournaments in the late 1990s, is generating a lot of enthusiasm. But while Ingelsby credits Brey for helping prepare him for his first head coaching shot, he says he’s not Brey 2.0)
“I love Coach Brey. I’m not Mike Brey. I’m going to be the best Martin Ingelsby I can," said Inglesby. "I’m excited for this challenge. We’ve got our work cut out for us. I will use him as a resource as much as I can.”
Ingelsby replaces Monte Ross, who was dismissed after the Blue Hens suffered through a 7-23 season this year.
Inglesby met with remaining Hen players last night and told them that while he wants them to have fun, he’s looking to shake things up.
“Things will be different. They have to embrace that. I think they need that. They want that. And things are going to be harder. When you go 7-and-23 last year, things have to change," said Ingelsby. "We have to continue to develop and nurture that culture that those guys are excited to be here and want to work hard to make the program better.”
Ingelsby says he realizes it will take time to turn things around – and rebuilding the program will start with “baby steps.”
Among those first steps is recruiting. Ingelsby – who grew up in nearby Berwyn, P-A and played Archbishop Carroll high school - expects to focus on the I-95 corridor to recruit players – but notes his time at Notre Dame also provides him with useful connections around the country
