Dalton State College basketball coach Tony Ingle has been called to serve as the Bishop (or pastor) of the Dalton ward, or congregation, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church is a volunteer organization and members serve, without pay, where and when called while retaining their full-time jobs.
Tony Ingle is a two-time national championship coach, winning at Kennesaw State NCAA D II and at Dalton State NAIA D II. He is also a four time National Coach of the year and served as an assistant interim basketball coach at BYU at which time the BYU Cougars won 3 WAC championships and went to 5 NCAA tournaments and one NIT.
Coach Ingle worked as an NBA Scout for the Utah Jazz, and is the founder and executive director of the John and Nellie Wooden Awards. He was selected in 2 Hall of Fames – Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame and Gordon State College.
Tony Ingle was born in Dalton, and was a star player at North Whitfield High School where he won MVP honors in his junior and senior years. In 1971, he was named First Team All-Tri State Squad by the Chattanooga Free Press. During the two years he was a player at Dalton Junior College, the Roadrunners won the state and regional championships. Tony also played at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Al.
In 1976, Tony Ingle joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is married to Jeanne Whitworth of Dalton, Georgia and they have 5 children and 9 grandchildren.
About his call to serve as Bishop of the Dalton Ward, Coach Ingle said, “I feel humbled to serve the wonderful and amazing people of Dalton, Georgia, and I hope I can do a good job. Although winning National Championships is important, there are many things in life much more important than winning basketball games – such as marriage, having children, baptism, and accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Redeemer.”
“Nothing comes close to the joy I feel when people accept Jesus as the Christ, and then do as He would do by blessing the lives of others. The Dalton Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located at 610 Shugart Road, Dalton Georgia 30720 and meets at 9:00am each Sunday. All are invited to attend, and I look forward to welcoming any and all who wish to worship with us and draw the power of Jesus Christ into their lives.”