OLIVET, Mich. – Olivet College Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Ernst has announced Justin Ingram is joining his coaching staff as head assistant coach for the Comets.

“I am thrilled to have such an experienced basketball coach join our staff,” said Ernst. “He will be a tremendous asset to the student-athletes and our program.”

A native of Lansing, Ingram graduated from Waverly High School in 2003. He was a three-time All-Conference selection, including a unanimous first-team pick as a junior and senior, and a first-team All-State selection by the Detroit Free Press, Associated Press and Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan as a senior. During his senior season, Ingram averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. He was named to the Lansing State Journal Dream Team as well as the Player of the Year.

“I am proud and excited to be a part of the Olivet men’s basketball program,” said Ingram. “I would like to thank Coach Ernst who I have known for almost entire life for this great coaching opportunity. Together, I know we are going to do great things at Olivet.”

Ingram played collegiate basketball at the University of Toledo (Ohio). As a freshman, he was selected as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Freshman of the Year after averaging 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. As a junior, he earned second-team All-MAC honors and led the Rockets to the championship game of the MAC Tournament, while increasing his scoring average to 14.6 points per game.

As a senior, Ingram served as a co-captain and helped Toledo win 2006-07 MAC regular season championship with a 14-2 record. He averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game on his way to earning first-team All-MAC honors. Starting all 123 games of his career in a Rocket uniform, Ingram ranks in the top ten in scoring (tenth: 1,494 points); three-pointers made (fourth: 213); free throw percentage (fourth: 81.6%); and steals (third: 217).

At the conclusion of his collegiate playing career, Ingram signed a contract to play for the Saint-Étienne Basket of the second tier men’s professional basketball league in France. He has also played various other teams and leagues overseas in Hungary, Estonia and Greece since 2007-08. Most recently, Ingram played for Lions de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland.

TRANSACTION – Justin Ingram named head assistant men’s basketball coach at Olivet College.

Story provided by Geoff Henson, Olivet