MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — Middle Tennessee State University has announced a clear path for the future of its women's basketball program, naming Matt Insell as the successor to his father, legendary head coach Rick Insell.

KEY POINTS
•Coaching Succession: The university has formally named Matt Insell as the eighth head coach in the history of the Middle Tennessee women’s basketball program.
•Proven Experience: Insell brings a wealth of high-level experience to the role, including five seasons as a head coach at Ole Miss and a successful stint as an assistant at Kentucky.
•Local Legacy: A native of Shelbyville and an MTSU alumnus, Matt Insell has served on the Blue Raider staff for eight seasons, including four as associate head coach.
•Championship Standard: Under the current leadership duo, the program recently achieved a historic 30–5 season and secured its first year-end national ranking since 2010.

Director of Athletics Chris Massaro introduced the younger Insell, who will take the reins as the eighth head coach in program history following the 2025–26 season. The decision, supported by President Sidney A. McPhee, aims to maintain the "championship standard" that has become synonymous with Lady Raider basketball in Murfreesboro.

Matt Insell is no stranger to the pressure of elite collegiate athletics. A Shelbyville native and MTSU graduate, he returned to his alma mater in 2018. During his current eight-season tenure on the staff—the last four of which were spent as associate head coach—he has been a primary architect of the team's recent dominance. His resume includes helping guide the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a 30-win season in 2023–24 that saw the Lady Raiders upset Louisville in the Round of 64.

Before returning to Murfreesboro, Matt Insell gained significant experience in the SEC. He served as the head coach at Ole Miss for five seasons and was a key assistant at the University of Kentucky during a run that included three Elite Eight appearances. Athletics Director Chris Massaro noted that this combination of external head coaching experience and deep internal knowledge of the MTSU culture made Insell the ideal candidate to carry the torch.

The transition comes with the full blessing of Rick Insell, who has shaped the program into a perennial powerhouse over the last two decades. For the Murfreesboro community, the appointment represents a commitment to continuity and local ties. Matt Insell resides in Murfreesboro with his wife, Autumn, and their two children, further cementing his personal and professional connection to the mid-state area as he prepares to lead the Lady Raiders into their next era.