Ingalls Tops 500 Career Wins Leading St. Ignace Girls Hoops Program

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

December 8, 2023

The St. Ignace girls basketball teams is off to a 2-0 start – and great starts and finishes certainly have been the norm over the last 25 seasons under the leadership of head coach Dorene Ingalls and her assistant, and husband, Doug.

Tuesday’s season-opening win over Brimley made Dorene Ingalls 500-94 beginning her 25th season guiding the program – now 501-94 after Thursday’s 63-27 victory over Boyne City. She entered this season 16th on the state list for most girls basketball coaching victories, and seventh among active coaches.

Dorene and Doug Ingalls.For all 501 wins, Doug Ingalls has been by her side as an assistant within the program – while also serving as boys varsity basketball coach from 1992-2008, 2011-16 and again currently in the fifth season of his latest tenure. His Saints also have opened 2-0, and he has a 355-175 record leading the boys program.

The Ingalls have led the girls program to five MHSAA Finals championships, most recently in Class D in 2015, and four runner-up finishes, most recently in Division 4 in 2019.

Dorene Ingalls received the MHSAA Women In Sports Leadership Award in 2021.

PHOTOS (Top) Doug and Dorene Ingalls, far left and right, respectively, take a photo with 2003 Miss Basketball Krista Clement. (Middle) Dorene and Doug Ingalls. (Photos by David Latva.)

Title IX at 50: Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 7, 2021

Labeling just one athlete the “greatest” of millions who have competed over a half century of MHSAA girls sports history – comparing the all-time best from multiple sports over multiple eras – is both bound to be unfair and ultimately impossible.

But Leland two-sport star Alisha Glass should be part of any related conversations.

The 2006 grad finished her Comets career with national high school career records of 3,584 kills and 937 aces, and her then-national record of 680 career blocks now ranks second. Total she continues to hold four MHSAA records, including for 48 kills during a five-set win over Battle Creek St. Philip in the 2006 Class D Final. She also earned all-state on the basketball court.

After finishing at Leland, Glass started all four of her seasons at Penn State and set the Nittany Lions to three straight NCAA championships. She was named USA Volleyball Indoor Female Athlete of the Year for both 2013 and 2014 and also was honored as the Best Setter of the 2016 Olympics after helping the U.S. to the bronze medal.

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard

Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

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