Cecil “Hootie” Ingram has passed away at the age of 90, his family confirmed on Monday.
A decorated student-athlete and athletics administrator.
Alabama mourns the passing of Cecil “Hootie” Ingram. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/p0on4gP4df
— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) May 6, 2024
Ingram was an All-SEC football player for the Crimson Tide in the 1950s before transitioning to administration and serving as the UA Athletics Director from 1989-1995.
He is credited with the hiring of Gene Stallings, who coached Alabama to its first national championship since Bear Bryant.
Ingram was born in Tuscaloosa and attended Tuscaloosa High where he was a three sport star before enrolling at UA and lettering in both football and baseball.
Even more impressive is the fact that Ingram played both offense and defense for the Crimson Tide, leading the nation with 10 interceptions in his sophomore season along with playing running back alongside the legendary Bart Starr.
He was also an All-SEC second baseman for the Tide baseball team.
When his playing career ended, Ingram began a high school coaching career before 12 years in the college game at Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Arkansas and Clemson.
Ingram made the transition to administration after retiring from coaching and 20 years later would end up back where he was born at UA and served as the AD until retirement in 1995.
He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
According to UA, in 2007, he was presented with The University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award, which recognizes athletes whose accomplishments since leaving the university are “outstanding based on character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service.”
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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