Inness tabbed Golf Coach of the Year, again
NICEVILLE – For just about anyone else, a fourth-place finish at the state tournament would be reason to celebrate. For Mitch Inness, it served as motivation.
Fresh off a fourth-place finish at last year’s Class 2A state girls’ golf tournament, Inness, the Niceville girls’ golf coach, quickly set sights on the 2011 campaign and, more precisely, a No. 1 finish. Following a record-setting performance at the District 1-2A tournament to capture the program’s 13th district crown in 14 seasons, the Eagles’ followed the lead of their coach, capturing a regional title the next week before capping the program’s 14th-consecutive state tournament appearance with its first-ever state title.
For his role in leading the Eagles to the state crown, Inness has been named the All Sports Association/Daily News’ Golf Coach of the Year. Inness also received the award last year.
“It was a total team experience,” Inness said. “From the players down to me, the people at Niceville High School, the city of Niceville, this team was embraced by everybody this year.
“I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined how the people in our community have really embraced our team and these girls.”
Inness just completed his 10th season at the helm of the Eagles’ program and, just like the previous nine, each has included in it a state tournament appearance. But unlike in years past, 2011 will be remembered not for the near-misses, but for the sweet ecstasy of finally raising a state championship trophy.
“This state championship wasn’t just for these girls, it was for the girls that came before them,” Inness said. “I’m going to remember the fact that we took this journey together. Being the coach for 10 years, it was on my shoulders to finally get a state title and it was the girls that embraced what we’ve been through as a program for 14 years.
“We did it together.”
Follow Travis Downey on Twitter: @TravisDnwfdn
