Audio Play/Pause Button Listen Live

Rick Insell Named to Conference USA Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Jul 09, 2025 at 01:36 pm by WGNS


MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — Middle Tennessee women's basketball Head Coach Rick Insell has been selected for induction into the Conference USA (CUSA) Hall of Fame Class of 2025, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. This marks Insell's ninth Hall of Fame induction, a testament to his extraordinary career, and a rare honor for an active coach.

Insell is the third Blue Raider to be enshrined in the CUSA Hall of Fame, following former MTSU football star and NFL All-Pro safety Kevin Byard and legendary Track and Field Coach Dean A. Hayes, both inducted in 2024. The CUSA Hall of Fame, established in 2019, recognizes exceptional contributions to the league, with a selection process involving a committee of nominees and a voting panel of the league’s Athletics Directors. Classes are limited to one to five inductees annually, and unselected nominees remain eligible for future consideration.

“Rick Insell has set the standard for excellence in women’s basketball, not just at Middle Tennessee, but across Conference USA,” said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “His accomplishments speak volumes — the championships, the wins, the national recognition — but it’s his passion, integrity, and relentless commitment to his student-athletes that truly define his legacy.”

MTSU President Dr. Sidney A. McPhee added, “Rick Insell is the embodiment of excellence, not only in wins and championships, but in how he has represented Middle Tennessee with class, passion, and purpose. His impact on women’s basketball is felt across the nation, and his induction into the Conference USA Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of a coach who has elevated our university.”

In his 20 seasons leading the Blue Raiders, Insell has amassed a 489-165 overall record, including an impressive 295-54 mark in CUSA play since joining the league in 2013-14. His tenure includes four CUSA regular-season titles, nine tournament championships, and numerous accolades, such as two CUSA Coach of the Year awards. Insell has mentored three CUSA Female Athletes of the Year, three Players of the Year, four Freshmen of the Year, two Defensive Players of the Year, two Sixth Players of the Year, and 46 All-CUSA selections.

Before MTSU, Insell’s remarkable coaching career at Shelbyville Central High School saw him lead the team to 10 state championships and two national championships, further cementing his legacy. His nine Hall of Fame inductions include the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (2003), National High School Hall of Fame (2007), Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Morgan Wootten Award for Lifetime Achievement (2010), Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2012), Cannon County Sports Hall of Fame (2013), Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2017), Blue Raiders Sports Hall of Fame (2017), and Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Hall of Fame (2021).