Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- ricky.insell@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 898-2451
UPDATED: June 2025
No coach in Middle Tennessee women’s basketball history has produced more success than Rick Insell. Entering his 20th season in 2025-26, Insell has guided the Blue Raiders to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, six WNITs, one WBIT, coached seven All-Americans, and developed five WNBA Draft picks.
Since taking over his alma mater’s program in 2005, the nine-time hall of fame inductee has built Middle Tennessee into one of the nation’s winningest programs, establishing a championship standard and national prominence unmatched in program history.
Career Highlights
Career Wins 1,264-313 (48 seasons)
at Middle Tenneessee 489-165 (20 Seasons)
at Shelbyville Central HS 775-148 (28 Seasons)
Hall of Fame Inductions
Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (2003)... National High School Hall of Fame (2007)... Naismith Hall of Fame Morgan Wootten Award for Lifetime Achievement in High School Girls Basketball (2010)... Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2012)... Cannon County Sports Hall of Fame (2013)... Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2017)... Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame (2017)... Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee (2021)... Conference USA Hall of Fame (Class of 2025).
Middle Tennessee (2005–Present)
Middle Tennessee’s all-time winningest basketball coach (men’s or women’s) with 489 career victories... 20 consecutive postseason appearances, including 12 NCAA Tournaments... .748 career winning percentage (19th nationally among active Division I coaches)... Five-time Conference USA Champion (2014, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024)... Seven appearances in the CUSA Championship Game (in 11 seasons)... Led the program to its 1,000th all-time victory vs. Florida A&M (Nov. 9, 2023)... Guided the team to a WNIT Semifinal (2022)... Has produced seven All-Americans, five conference players of the year, and five WNBA Draft picks
Only coach in NCAA history to produce three consecutive NCAA scoring champions... Four-time Conference Coach of the Year... Guided the Blue Raiders to a program-record 30 wins in 2006-07 and 2023-24... 20-plus wins in 18 of 20 eligible seasons... Top-30 nationally in attendance in 18 of 20 seasons.
Shelbyville Central HS (1978–2005)
775-148 record (.840 winning percentage)... 10 Class AAA state championships (TSSAA record)... 15 state championship game appearances in 28 seasons... USA Today National Champions (1989, 1991)... Four-time National Coach of the Year (USA Today 1989, 1991; Converse 1990, 1992)... Set Tennessee records for most consecutive wins (110), consecutive state titles (4), and most championships by a coach (10)... 1991 Shelbyville team named Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame “Team of the Year” — the first high school team ever recognized... Invited to the Oval Office by President George H.W. Bush for academic and athletic achievement... 23 district championships, 16 regional championships.
AAU Coaching Career
Three-time AAU National Champion (1988, 1998, 2004)... First coach of the Kodak High School All-American Game (1992)... Head coach of the South Team at the 2002 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival.
Personal
Born June 5, 1951, in Murfreesboro, Tenn... Married to the former Deb Spry.... They have three sons: Tom, Kyle, and Matt... Parents: Charles and Dot Insell.
