MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — The final buzzer sounded on a legendary chapter of Middle Tennessee athletics Thursday night as the Lady Raiders fell to Cleveland State 66-56 in the Super 16 of the Women’s NIT. The loss marks the official retirement of Head Coach Rick Insell, who announced last week that the 2025-26 campaign would be his final season on the sidelines.

KEY POINTS
• Record-Breaking Tenure: Coach Rick Insell concludes his remarkable 21-season career at Middle Tennessee with 506 wins and 21 consecutive postseason appearances.
• Final Matchup: The Lady Raiders' season ended in the Super 16 of the WNIT following a hard-fought 66-56 loss to Cleveland State on the road.
• Family Succession: Associate Head Coach Matt Insell has been named the eighth head coach in program history and was be formally introduced Tuesday.
• Hall of Fame Legacy: Insell retires as the only coach in history to surpass 500 wins at both the NCAA Division I and high school levels, totaling over 1,280 career victories.

Insell, during his final postgame comments, talked about what he'd like to do in the future to help all Blue Raider athletic programs, starting with the fans:

Insell leaves a legacy that redefined excellence at his alma mater. Over 21 seasons, he led the program to 12 NCAA Tournament bids, 10 conference tournament titles, and 21 straight postseason trips. His 506 collegiate wins combined with 775 victories at Shelbyville Central High School make him the only coach in history to surpass the 500-win milestone at both levels, totaling over 1,280 career wins.

The program has already secured its future, formally introducing Matt Insell as the eighth head coach in program history this past Tuesday. Matt, who has served as associate head coach for the last four seasons, is tasked with maintaining the championship culture his father established. During the press conference, Matt Insell emphasized his commitment to the "tradition of excellence" while acknowledging the profound impact his father had on the university.