Ingram Named Offensive Line Coach at Naval Academy

Ashley Ingram

ANNAPOLIS, Md. Naval Academy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo announced Friday that Ashley Ingram has joined the coaching staff as an offensive line coach and will be responsible for coaching the center and guards. Ingram comes to Navy from Bucknell University, where he served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Bison spread option offense the last two seasons.

"Ashley comes from a football family with his dad and brother coaching on the high school level. He has been around option football all of his life as a player and coach. He is an excellent recruiter and has strong ties in the South, which is an area of the country that has been very good to us in the past," Niumatalolo said.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to work at an institution like the United States Naval Academy and to coach some of the nation's finest student-athletes," said Ingram. "The Naval Academy is a tradition rich environment, and I am extremely excited to be a part of the Naval Academy family."

In Ingram's first year as offensive coordinator at Bucknell in 2006, the Bison ranked fifth in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 235.2 yards per game, and reduced their turnover total from 33 the previous season to 14. The Bison were also the least penalized team in the Patriot League that season. The offense was beset by injuries in 2007, but the Bison still managed to rush for 173.2 yards per game, 45th best among 116 Division I FCS teams.

Ingram came to Bucknell from Rhode Island, where he served as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator while also serving as team liaison in the areas of admissions, academic progress, class registration and scheduling.

During his tenure at Rhode Island, the Rams led the Atlantic 10 in rushing in each of his four seasons and finished second in the nation in rushing yards in 2003, averaging 333.8 yards per contest. While at Rhode Island, Ingram mentored six All-Atlantic 10 performers and one All-American, and was part of an outstanding 8-3 season in 2001.

A native of Iron City and a 1996 graduate of the University of North Alabama, Ingram was a four-year letterman on the offensive line and helped his team win Division II national titles in 1993, 1994 and 1995. He entered the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant, first at North Alabama in 1997, then at Temple University in 1998. After spending a year at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, he became the offensive line coach at the University of West Alabama in 1999, then at Rhode Island in 2000.

Ingram, who married his wife Jenifer, a native of Wakefield,Rhode Island, in the summer of 2007, holds a master's degree in education from North Alabama.

Ashley is the son of Coach Alan and Sue Ingram of Iron City. He is also the brother of Christy I. Croom and Robert Ingram. He is the uncle of Jeffery and Josh Croom and Steele Ingram.