Tag: Roger Ingles

Coaches Corner: Q&A with Roger Ingles

By Aleksei Pavloff, Sports Editor

Roger is leaving OWU this May to start at Capital University.

Q: Why did you feel this was the time to leave OWU?

A: It is as much about the great opportunity that Capital provides as it is the timing. I have been considering making a change for a while and the Capital position matches extremely well with my skill set and with the new enthusiasm President Paul has brought to campus and her focus on student experience, it was a great fit.

Q: How difficult was this decision and what were the factors?

A: This was very difficult. Making any move is a tough choice but to leave a place you deeply loved and have spent a lot of time and effort at is difficult. I have many wonderful friends among our staff, faculty and alumni. They will be hard to leave but staying close by makes it much easier. The key factors are the direction Capital is moving, the support for the athletic and recreation programs and the desire to grow and become one of the best Division III programs in the country. All are similar goals that I have.

Q: What are some of the things you love about OWU athletics?

A:The students are absolutely the best part of OWU athletics. I enjoy every day with them and watching them grow as students, athletes and people. We have a great staff of which many I have hired and we have a passionate and supportive alumni.

Q: What are you proud to have accomplished?

A: I am proud that I have always fought for gender equity and fairness in the department, demanding a commitment to being a true student-athlete and providing great coaches, facilities and programs to our athletes. We have increased the coaching staff, built and renovated our facilities and developed some great ways to recognize our students and alumni. I am very proud of our Bishop Backer group and the outstanding working relationship developed between the Delaware Community and OWU Athletics.

Q: What will you miss about OWU?

A: Everything but mostly the great people who Ohio Wesleyan attracts. The great thing about this move is my wife and I remain close, Jo will continue to teach at OWU and our son Brad works in the alumni office. The Capital teams play OWU a lot and I expect I will see a lot of OWU.

Athletics Director Roger Ingles to leave OWU for Capital University

Sara Hollabaugh, Online Editor

Athletics Director Roger Ingles is leaving OWU to become director of athletics at Capital University.

On March 23, President Rock Jones sent a campus-wide email stating Ingles is leaving behind his combined 33 years of experience at OWU as a coach and director.

In his email, Jones said Ingles will “oversee 20 men’s and women’s varsity sports.”

According to the Batthing Bishops staff director, Ingles coached baseball for 22 seasons, was assistant athletics director for seven years and associate athletics director for three years before he became the athletics director.

Before becoming interim athletics director, Ingles was associate athletics director for 3 years and assistant athletics director for 7 years.

Jones wrote of Ingles’ success at OWU as both baseball coach and athletics director.

“During his 22 seasons coaching the Bishops, Roger’s teams earned 15 NCAA Division III postseason appearances and eight North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships,” Jones said. “Roger’s accomplishments include creating the student scholar-athlete awards banquet, expanding the coaching and athletic training staffs, working to improve gender equity across the athletics spectrum, and helping to improve Ohio Wesleyan’s athletics facilities.”

Jones added Ingles brought OWU two NCAA men’s and women’s track & field national championships and one men’s and women’s cross country national championship.

“Ask Roger what he’s most proud of during his tenure as Athletics Director, and all of his comments have a common theme: Supporting Ohio Wesleyan student-athletes, helping players achieve academic as well as athletic success, and preparing them for happy, healthy, well-balanced lives,” Jones said in his email.

Ingles said, to Jones, joining Capital University’s athletic program will challenge him.

“I have great love for Ohio Wesleyan. I am proud of all that has been accomplished here. Capital is looking to enhance its athletics programs and facilities, and this is just the kind of opportunity and challenge that I like to take on,” Ingles said.

The Transcript is reaching out to Ingles and other members of the athletic department at this time and will update the story when information is available.