Larry Joe Inman Head Coach Women's Basketball e-mail

 Under Inman's guidance, Eastern won its first outright OVC regular season championship in 1996-97 and, in the process, set a league record for conference victories with 16 in completing a fantastic 24-6 season.  This, coming off the heels of a share of its first ever OVC title, a quad championship in 1994-95.  In 1997-98, Inman added to the championship trophies at Eastern as he led the Lady Colonels to a share of the OVC title once again.

 With the return of all but three players and the addition of several outstanding recruits, the Lady Colonels could be battling for the conference crown again in 1999-2000.

 Eastern's program has been one of consistency in the 1990’s, only finishing out of the top half of the league standings once.  Over the past eight seasons, Eastern has an impressive record of 134-88, a .604 winning percentage.

 The type of teamwork needed to accomplish so much is a direct reflection on the coaching philosophy that has brought the Lady Colonels to the next level.

 “Each person must give of themselves for the one common goal -- to win and be successful -- not what they want, but what is the common goal for all,” explains Inman.

 This theme of teamwork has created success for the program, but individual talent has not gone unnoticed either.  In 1996-97, Chrissy Roberts won the College Basketball Hall of Fame's Ed Steitz Award and the AT&T Long Distance Award for leading NCAA Division I players in three point percentage.  For her outstanding junior year, her uniform, practice gear and shoes were placed into the Hall  of  Fame  in  Springfield, MA.  In 1997-98,  Roberts continued her excellence as she was seventh in the nation in 3 point accuracy and fourth in free throw percentage on her way to earning OVC Player of the  Year honors  and NCAA All American  accolades.

 Inman has also coached OVC Player of the Year Kim Mays (1994-95), as well as the first time selection of two EKU players to the All OVC first team, which has now been accomplished twice.  In 1995-96, Inman coached Samantha Young and Laphelia Doss to that honor and repeated that feat in 1997-98 with Laphelia Doss and Chrissy Roberts. Last season Charlotte Sizemore made first team All OVC.   Inman is quick to give credit to his players.

 “We have been very fortunate in having good people, as well as good basketball players, which in turn creates a positive situation,” commented Inman.  “We just look for players that are down to earth with good work ethics.”

 Work ethic has never been a problem for the six time OVC Coach of the Year.  He has set standards at every position he has held, a trail of success that leads all the way back to  the early 1970’s.   His first high  school coaching job, at Mt. Juliet High School in Nashville TN, was filled with enough titles to end a career.  In just five years, Inman led Mt. Juliet to five district  titles, four  regional championships, three Nashville Interscholastic League titles and the 1977 Tennessee Class AAA state title.

 Inman was just getting warmed up, as he quickly moved up the ranks to the helm of the Middle Tennessee State University Lady Raiders.  His first collegiate coaching stint was just as successful, capturing five regular season Ohio Valley Conference crowns in eight years.  He was named Coach of the Year three times and compiled a 161-73 record at the school.  The Lady Raiders won a total of nine regular season and tournament championships during his tenure, including four consecutive regular season AND tournament titles from 1983-86.

   His accomplishments at Eastern Kentucky have been no less remarkable, with Coach of the Year honors and titles following Inman to Richmond.  He became the only coach to be recognized for Coach of the Year honors at two different OVC schools after his selection in 1990 for that honor.  He has since won that honor at Eastern in 1994-95 and 1996-97.  He has also become the school’s all time leader in wins and winning percentage (172, .571).   With every win the Eastern mentor earns, he raises his own standard for both the school and the conference for career wins.

 Not all of his accomplishments have been on the OVC level, as Inman has been involved in national competition both at Eastern and Middle Tennessee.  He led the Lady Raiders to four NCAA Regional appearances, where MTSU won one third of its games.  In 1996-97, he led Eastern to its first ever NCAA Regional appearance at Georgia.  He was also nominated for the WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year honors in 1980 and again in 1993.

 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 TN.  They have one son, Jody, and two daughters, Latrice and Tiffany.