A Life of Service: John Ingold of Goshen College

Hartford City, IN—John Ingold grew up on a dairy farm in Ludlow, Illinois (population 300), just north of Champaign.

Ingold was active, competing in four sports in high school—football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. He was also a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Ingold landed at Goshen College in the fall of 1955 and attended Goshen College as a student from 1955-1959. He played on the first soccer and basketball teams in 1957 and the first track and field team in 1959. "I'd looked at a couple other schools but the Mennonite/Baptist church affiliation with Goshen College is what attracted me to the school," said Ingold.

After graduation from Goshen College, Ingold spent two years (1961-1963) in Africa volunteering and serving the people of the country. Ingold also spent one month in Germany in August of 1963 as part of International Voluntary Service. While in Germany he built houses for refugees.

Following his trip to Germany, Ingold returned to Goshen College, where he taught in the physical education department from 1964-2000. Ingold had the opportunity to go to Haiti in 1980. Ingold stated that students were encouraged to spend two semesters in an international program abroad to aid their liberal arts experience.

In 1993 Goshen College built a new recreation center. Inside the rec center Ingold built an Exercise Science Lab that students could use to further enhance their education. It was very important to him that students received a good education. On top of his international traveling and academic pursuits, Ingold coached all seven sports at Goshen College as well—baseball, basketball, track and field, soccer, cross country, tennis, and golf. "I really like the school, it's a strong academic institution with good student-athletes," said Ingold.

Throughout his coaching career at Goshen College Ingold coached 75 teams. I asked him what coach during his time did he follow and study, to which he replied—"John Wooden. I would read articles about him all the time."

It's no wonder, with John Wooden being a coach he admired, that basketball was one of his favorites. Ingold grew up with basketball. Asked what you had to do to be successful at basketball he replied, "You have to be in better condition than your opponents. Knowing the strategies and rules are important as well as being fundamentally sound."

Ingold added, "You also need good team spirit. There is no "I" in team."

Ingold felt that getting good students would benefit the basketball team. "I felt by getting solid students that they could learn fast and they were achievers. I'd give them a few coaching points and then let them figure it out. I didn't want to stand there yelling and have them running around like robots on the court."

On top of teaching in the physical education department and coaching numerous teams at Goshen College, Ingold also served in all four officer positions in the Mid-Central College Conference, which Goshen College joined around 1970. Ingold served as the President, Vice President, Secretary, and District Representative. "We met four times a year as a conference with each school's entire staff to make sure we were all together on things," said Ingold.

Since retirement, Ingold now serves as a "full-time volunteer". He designed and built a 3-hole, par 3 golf course on Goshen's campus where he mows the greens. Ingold also supports the students and professors in the classroom and labs as well as drives the bus for field trips and athletic events. Ingold estimates he probably drives the bus for 120 trips a year. Not only does Ingold drive the bus, but he cleans, sweeps, and washes the bus too. Ingold said, "Students leave all kinds of stuff on the bus—money, clothes, phones, even laptops. They usually come back looking for it."

Ingold added, "I enjoy getting to know the student-athletes, parents, and coaches. It's nice to visit with people from opposing institutions as well." As he's visited all the institutions in the Crossroads League, Ingold feels like the league is special. "The institutions have similar missions, the coaches, athletic directors, and presidents get along. I think the league office does a good job and gives the league a chance to grow," said Ingold.

He added, "I think the Crossroads League is one of the toughest conferences in the country."

Ingold has spent his life serving others and volunteering. Helping others is truly his passion. When asked to offer coaching advice to young coaches he said, "Don't over coach. It's better to under coach. Give kids 2 or 3 main points at halftime—don't come in with too much stuff or its overload. Talk with a few kids on the way out to the playing field on specific things if you need to."

Next time you're at an athletic contest with Goshen College on the road, stop by and visit with John. He truly has a heart to serve others.