 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Offensive assistant |
| Team | Michigan |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1960-08-19)August 19, 1960 (age 64) San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Idaho |
| Playing career | |
| 1978 | Colorado |
| 1979–1981 | Wichita State |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1982–1988 | Idaho (GA/RB/OL) |
| 1989–1993 | San Diego State (RB/OL/OC) |
| 1994 | Eastern Michigan (OL) |
| 1995–1996 | Louisville (OC) |
| 1997–1999 | Northern Iowa (OC) |
| 2000–2003 | Idaho (OC) |
| 2004 | Indiana State (TE/OL) |
| 2005 | Miami (OH) (TE/OL) |
| 2006–2008 | Northwestern (OL) |
| 2009–2016 | New Orleans Saints (RB/OL) |
| 2016–2017 | Florida (OA) |
| 2018–2020 | Vanderbilt (OA) |
| 2021 | Utah (OA) |
| 2022–present | Michigan (OA) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| National Championship (2023) Super Bowl champion (XLIV) | |
Bret Alexander Ingalls (born August 19, 1960) is anAmerican football coach. He is an offensive assistant at theUniversity of Michigan, a position he has held since 2022. Ingalls was an assistant coach with theNew Orleans Saints of theNational Football League (NFL) from 2009 to 2016. He also served as anoffensive coordinator atSan Diego State University, theUniversity of Louisville,Northern Iowa University, and theUniversity of Idaho between 1992 and 2003.
Bret Alexander Ingalls was born in 1960 to James L. Ingalls and Elizabeth Ingalls (Sites). His father was an all-state football player and went on to play semi-professional football for the Seattle Ramblers. He is a graduate ofSnohomish High School, inSnohomish, Washington, where he played trumpet in the jazz band and lettered in football, basketball, and baseball.[1] In the 1976–77 season, under the leadership of head coach Dick Armstrong, Ingalls helped the Snohomish High Panthers win the school's first state championship. In his senior season, he received All-American honors as a halfback for the Panthers. Ingalls earned an athletic scholarship toColorado, but transferred after his first year toWichita State.[2] His career was ultimately cut short by a neck injury.
Ingalls started his coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant atIdaho in1982 for first time head coachDennis Erickson. He then moved on to coach defensive backs, running backs, and offensive line through1988, and the Vandals won four Big Sky conference championships. In 1989, Ingalls was hired as running backs coach by theSan Diego State Aztecs, and offensive coordinator in 1993. Ingalls coached three-timeAll-American running back andMarshall Faulk, a futurehall of famer.[3] Ingalls continued to coach as offensive coordinator at Louisville in 1995 and 1996, Northern Iowa from 1997 to 1999.
In2000, he returned to his alma mater as the offensive coordinator alongside head coachTom Cable for four seasons.[4] Ingalls then served short stints at Indiana State and Miami(OH), before joining Northwestern in 2006. In 2008, Ingalls helped the Wildcats to 142 yards per game despite starting five first-year starters.[5]
Ingalls was hired by the New Orleans Saints in 2009 as the running backs coach, before being named the offensive line coach in 2013. As the running backs coach in 2009, Ingalls coached the trio known as the 'three-headed monster' made up ofPierre Thomas,Reggie Bush, andMike Bell. Additional backs that have played under Ingalls includeChris Ivory,Mark Ingram II andDarren Sproles. In Ingalls first season the Saints attained a 13–3 regular season record and successfully went on to win the franchise's first NFL championship inSuper Bowl XLIV.[6] In 2009 the Saints were the No. 1 overall offense, finishing No. 6 in rushing (131.6 ypg) and No. 4 in passing (272.2 ypg).[7] As the offensive line coach, Ingalls coached 6-time Pro-BowlerJahri Evans, in addition to developing new pro linemen Terron Armstead and Andrus Peat. In the 2015 season, the Saints offensive line was ranked No. 3 byPro Football Focus.[8]
Ingalls was hired by second yearFlorida Gators head coachJim McElwain as an offensive assistant in 2016.[9] Ingalls continued in similar role for theVanderbilt Commodores between 2018 and 2020.
At the end of the 2020 season, Ingalls joined the coaching staff of theUtah Utes as an offensive analyst. After the Utes appeared in the2022 Rose Bowl against theOhio State, Ingalls was hired as offensive analyst for theMichigan Wolverines in March 2022.
Ingalls is married to his wife Diana, and the couple have three children. He is a 1982 graduate of theUniversity of Idaho and holds a degree inBusiness Management. Ingalls started graduate studies at Idaho before taking a permanent position on the football staff.