Bethune-Cookman University Director of Athletics, Lynn W. Thompson, officially announced the appointment of Vanessa Inge as head coach for the women’s basketball program at B-CU.
Vanessa Inge comes to B-CU after serving for nine (9) years as the head women’s basketball coach at Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Md. where she earned a career record of 120-135. While at Mount St. Mary’s, she was a record setter as both a player and coach. Vanessa Inge is the former Vanessa Blair who last year married Mount St. Mary’s men’s basketball standout Riley Inge.
“I’m excited about the B-CU family,” expressed Inge. “I’m thankful to Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed (University President), Mr. Lynn Thompson (Director of Athletics) and Sandra Booker (Senior Woman Administrator) for this tremendous opportunity to serve Bethune-Cookman University as their head women’s basketball coach. The decision to join the Wildcats family was an easy one once I saw how much the university supported the women’s basketball program and athletics in general. I’m honored to be part of such a historic university with a storied athletic program.”
Inge, who took over the reigns of the women's basketball team at Mount St. Mary’s prior to the 1998-99 campaign, guided the women's squad to a 21-7 overall record and a Northeast Conference regular season crown. Inge’s remarkable debut season earned her NEC Coach of the Year honors?making her the first and only person in league history to have been named both Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in their career. She spent all of last year out of basketball and in the corporate sector but was eager to return to the sport that has meant so much to her throughout her life.
In addition to her player and coach of the year awards, Inge earned Northeast Conference Player of the Decade honors on the 10th anniversary of NEC women's basketball. One of three Mountaineers to make the six-member NEC Team of the Decade, Inge was named the top player in the NEC from 1985-1995. She was also one of three Mountaineer players to be named to both the 20th and 25th NEC Anniversary team.
“Vanessa Inge represents the total package,” expressed B-CU’s Lynn Thompson. “She is a former outstanding student-athlete, professional player and highly-experienced Division I coach from a private, church-related university. We expect her to flourish in leading our program with these great qualities.”
In her nine years as a head coach in the NEC, Inge moved up the record charts much like she did as a player. Currently, she ranks eighth (8th) for career conference regular season wins by a head coach?the third most by any active head coach in the league (97), and holds a .598 overall conference winning percentage. In a 77-59 win against Morgan State on Dec. 30, 2005, she picked up her 100th career victory.
Furthermore, Inge has coached two NEC Players of the Year, two NEC Defensive Players of the Year, one NEC Rookie of the Year, four All-NEC first-team selections and three All-NEC second-team selections. She has played with or coached 17 of the program’s 21 1,000-point scorers.
“I am eager to get to know my team,” stated Inge. “Coaches often mention taking a few years to ?get their team in place’, but I disagree. This is my team now, and I’m excited about the future of the program. The feeling from the young ladies is that they want what I want, and that is to do whatever it takes to be successful.”
Before taking the helm of the Mount St. Mary’s women's basketball team, Inge first returned to her alma mater in 1996 as an assistant coach. In her two years as an assistant, Inge worked extensively with the post players and recruitment. Prior to returning to the Emmitsburg area, Inge played two years of professional basketball in Sweden. Inge played on the Pro Basketball Club, a first division team based in the city of Orebro, before a knee injury cut her career short.
Inge returned home to the United States, where she assisted her father at Largo (Md.) High School and coached at the AAU youth level?all while working in the business world for companies like the District of Columbia Department of Finance and Revenue, Reebok and finally Network MCI.
Realizing her desire to return to collegiate basketball, Inge agreed to return to her alma mater as an assistant coach alongside her college coach, Bill Sheahan, who currently ranks as the NEC's all-time career leader in regular season wins with 124.
“Based on what we have seen thus far, our Wildcats women’s basketball team should be honored to play under such a quality person and coach,” continued Lynn Thompson. “She’ll be a great addition to the Bethune-Cookman University family. We took our time to make sure we found the right person, and we are convinced that we have found that in Vanessa Inge.”
Playing under Sheahan, Inge set the school's game, season and career records in blocked shots. Inge ranks sixth all-time in scoring and third in rebounds. She holds Mount St. Mary’s record for free throws attempted in a season. She currently is the only Mountaineer to hold triple-digit career marks in five (5) different categories, showing why she was named NEC Player of the Year in 1991 and ?92.