When Larry Joe Inman became the head women’s basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University, the question was not if he would win, but how much and how soon. After 19 seasons, the question has only been partially answered as milestones and firsts continue to follow him in his tenure with the Lady Colonels. Inman’s success at EKU has not gone unnoticed as his name has become widely recognized in women’s basketball coaching circles throughout the country. He currently ranks 27th on the NCAA’s list of Winningest Active Coaches with a 466-304 career record.
During his time at Eastern Kentucky, the Lady Colonels have consistently ranked among the top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference. In 2004-05, Inman earned his eighth OVC Coach of the Year honor while leading the Lady Colonels to both the conference regular season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Under his guidance, Eastern won its first outright OVC regular season championship in 1996-97 and, in the process, established a league record for conference victories with 16 while also setting a program mark with 24 overall wins. This, coming off the heels of a share of its first-ever OVC title, a quad championship in 1994-95, was the beginning of the Lady Colonels’ conference success. 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.
Eastern’s program has been one of consistency since the 1990s, finishing in the top half of the league in all but four seasons. Over the past 14 seasons, Eastern has an impressive record of 284-184, a .607 winning percentage and has posted six 20+ win seasons.
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," Inman said.
This theme of teamwork has created success for the program, but individual talent has not gone unrewarded 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 field goal percentage. Following that outstanding junior year, her uniform, practice gear and shoes were placed into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. In 1997-98, Roberts continued her excellence as she was seventh in the nation in three-point accuracy and fourth in free throw percentage on her way to earning accolades.
Inman coached OVC Player of the Year Kim Mays (1994-95), in addition to seeing the first-time selection of two EKU players to the All-OVC First Team, which has now been accomplished twice under his watch. In 1995-96, Inman coached Samantha Young and Laphelia Doss to first team accolades and repeated that feat two years later with Doss and Chrissy Roberts. In the past six years, 11 players have been recognized to all-conference teams with four selections to the first team and freshman Ashley Cazee earned the league’s Freshman of the Year honor following the 2004-05 season. 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," Inman said. "We just look for players that are down to earth with good work ethics."
Work ethic has never been a problem for the eight-time OVC Coach of the Year. He has set high standards at each coaching stop along the way with a trail of success that begins in the early 1970s. His first high school coaching job, at Mount Juliet High School in Nashville, Tenn., was filled with enough trophies to fill a case. In just five years, Inman led Mount Juliet to five district titles, four regional championships, three Nashville Interscholastic League titles and the 1977 Tennessee Class AAA state title. Prior to his years at Mount Juliet, Inman served as the head coach at Gallatin Junior High for four years.
After his years at secondary level, Inman quickly moved up to the collegiate ranks, taking the top job with 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 time on the sidelines, 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 conference titles following Inman to Richmond. He became the only coach recognized as Coach of the Year at two different OVC schools after his selection in 1990 for that honor. He has since won the award at Eastern four more times (‘95, ‘97, ‘01 and ‘05). He has also become the school’s all-time leader in wins and winning percentage (305, .569). 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 conference level, as Inman led both Eastern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee to the national scene. He took the Lady Raiders to four NCAA Regionals and MTSU won a third of its games. In 1996-97, he led Eastern to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and in 2001-02, Inman led the Lady Colonels to the WNIT "Sweet 16" after defeating Southwest Missouri State on the road in overtime. He was nominated for WBCA District IX Coach of the Year honors in 1980 and again in 1993. Since 1999, Inman has been named to Who’s Who by Strathmore’s and Marqui’s five different times. He was also named Man of the Year by the American Biographical Institute in 2001.
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, Tenn. They have one son, Jody, and two daughters, Latrice and Tiffany.
