Former Alabama Athletics Director Cecil "Hootie" Ingram has died

On Monday the University of Alabama Athletics Department announced that former University of Alabama Athletics Director and Clemson head football coach Cecil "Hootie" Ingram has died. He was 90.

Ingram was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

He was a Tuscaloosa native and excelled in athletics. Ingram attended the University of Alabama where he lettered in both football and baseball (1951-54). He played both halfback and defensive back. He had ten interceptions in 1952 to lead the nation – that is still the Tide record. Ingram was an All-SEC second baseman for the baseball team.

He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but never played.

He spent four years coaching high school in the Tuscaloosa area. He coached at the college level for 12 years at Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Arkansas and Clemson.

Ingram was officially hired as Clemson's head coach on Dec. 17, 1969. This followed three seasons as Arkansas' defensive backs coach under Frank Broyles. Ingram recorded a 12 and 21 record as Clemson's head coach. Clemson adopted its Tiger Paw logo under Ingram's tenure.

Ingram held a number of administrative positions. From 1972 to 1981 he served as associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. He became the athletic director at Florida State from 1981-89 and at Alabama from 1989-95. Bobby Bowden and Gene Stallings were notable football coaches that worked for Ingram. He hired Gene Stallings at Alabama. Stallings won a national championship in 1992 – Bama's first since the retirement of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He retired in 1995.

Ingram was named to UA's "Team of the Century" as the second team defensive back. In 2007, he was presented with The University of Alabama National Alumni Association's Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award, recognizing athletes whose accomplishments since leaving the university are "outstanding based on character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service."

Ingram was injured in a fall in March. He died at a Birmingham hospital.

This report is based on original reporting by the University of Alabama and Clemson University.