The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced the upcoming retirement of AHSAA Director of Communications Ron Ingram on Monday.
Ingram, an award-winning sportswriter, has served as director of communications for the association for the past 18 years.
“Ron Ingram’s impact on the AHSAA and high school athletics in Alabama is immeasurable,” said AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon.
“His dedication, integrity, and passion for telling the stories of our student-athletes, coaches and administrators have shaped the way high school sports are covered and celebrated in this state,” Harmon added. “Ron is more than a colleague—he’s a part of our association’s legacy, and while we’ll miss him dearly in the office, his influence will continue to guide us for years to come.”
Ingram is a native of Pike County and a graduate of the University of Alabama who served as high school sports editor for The Birmingham News from 1984 until he joined AHSAA in 2007. Ingram previously worked as sports editor for the Dothan Progress from 1975 to 1982, and as sports editor for the Dothan Eagle from 1982 to 1984.
Ingram was inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, the Alabama Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame in 2013, and the AHSAA Hall of Fame in 2015.
He has received numerous rewards for his high school sports reporting, including the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Mel Allen Media Award in 2017, as well as Auburn University’s Community Journalist of the Year award in 2012.
Ingram was also the 1987 recipient of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Herby Kirby Award for story of the year and the 2006 recipient of the organization’s Bill Shelton Award.
During his time with The Birmingham News, Ingram covered AHSAA’s activities under executive directors, Herman “Bubba” Scott and Dan Washburn.
“It’s a mixed feeling,” Ingram told AHSAA of his upcoming retirement. “It’s something I’ve been doing for 54 years, one way or another. Things are going to be different. I’m going to be using my time in a different way. It’s going to be a challenge for me. I’m ready to start spending more time with my family, with my wife and children and grandchildren and doing some of the things I needed to do more of during my career.”
“I’m going to miss the AHSAA. It has always had great people working at and leading the AHSAA. Through the AHSAA’s leadership and commitment to the students’ health and safety and fair play mission, our state and its schools have been very blessed,” Ingram added. “This association is recognized as one of the tops in the nation. I’m going to miss this great family. It’s been a great family away from home.”
AHSAA described Ingram as their “unofficial historian and a natural storyteller.”
“At the AHSAA, Ingram worked tirelessly behind the scenes to improve access for media members at championship events and served as the emcee at post-game press conferences at the Super 7 and state basketball tournaments,” AHSAA wrote.
Ingram was first hired by former AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese and also served under executive directors Alvin Briggs and Heath Harmon.
“We needed someone who had a good relationship with the media. There was nobody in the state who had more respect than Ron Ingram. One of the best hires I ever made was Ron,” Savarese said.
“Of all the people who have retired from the Alabama High School Athletic Association, he will be the most missed,” said Briggs. “Ron does things in that office that nobody else knows how to do, where to start to do them, and how to begin doing them.”
AHSAA also highlighted Ingram’s role as a mentor to prominent Alabama sports journalists, helping launch the careers of Birmingham sports columnist Kevin Scarbinsky and AL.com columnist Michael Casagrande through The Birmingham News’ internship program.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the communications director was responsible for launching AHSAA virtual press conferences.
“He wanted to make sure the media had all the access they could to the association and the high school athletes of this state. He genuinely wanted good things to be written about the athletes of this state. He never forgot his roots as a local beat writer,” Briggs said of Ingram.
AHSAA said Ingram plans to continue working with the association “from time to time when a need arises.”
He is set to step down as communications director on December 31.
“God has given me a great career, and I’m so fortunate to be able to do what I love for 54 years and get paid to do it,” said Ingram. “I had a great time.”
AHSAA has recently become subject to criticism and a lawsuit filed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainesville, regarding an association policy barring transfer students who receive CHOOSE Act funding from participating in sporting events for a year.
The rule was put on hold by a temporary restraining order issued by Montgomery County Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines last month, until the issue is settled in court.
