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Men's Basketball-Alex Ireland

Alex Ireland

Alex Ireland joined the Dalton State Basketball program in 2017 as the lead assistant to legendary coach Tony Ingle. Following Ingle’s retirement, Ireland stepped into the role of Interim Head Coach for the 2018–19 season, guiding the Roadrunners to an 18–13 overall record and a 13–9 mark in Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) play. His leadership earned him the permanent position, becoming the second head coach in program history on March 14, 2019.

PATH TO DALTON STATE
A Lawrenceville, Ga., native, Ireland graduated from Collins Hill High School and went on to Kennesaw State University, earning a B.S. in American History (2012) while serving in the men’s basketball program as a student assistant and later video coordinator (2007–12).
 
Began his coaching career at North Cobb Christian School (2012–13), then moved to Valdosta State as a graduate assistant (2013–15), completing a master’s degree in higher education/leadership (2015).
 
Advanced to the NAIA/Division I ranks with Alcorn State (2015–16) and UT Martin (2016–17) as an assistant coach, gaining recruiting, scouting, and player development experience.
 
Recruited back to Georgia by legendary coach Tony Ingle, Ireland joined Dalton State as lead assistant in 2017; following Ingle’s retirement in August 2018, Ireland was tabbed interim head coach for 2018–19 and officially named head coach on March 14, 2019.
 
TIME WITH THE ROADRUNNERS
After Ingle’s retirement, Ireland steered the program to an 18–13 campaign as interim head coach in 2018–19 before having the interim tag removed in March 2019.
 
The 2019–20 season proved defining under Ireland’s leadership. Dalton State ripped off a program-record 17 straight victories, finished 30–3, and claimed the SSAC Tournament title while earning a No. 1 seed in the NAIA National Championship, only to see the tournament canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic and injuries weighed on the next two years, but the Birds battled through a disrupted 2020–21 slate and a gritty 2021–22 season before rebounding to 17–12 in 2022–23.
 
Ireland’s 2024–25 squad restored the Roadrunners to the top of the league, capturing the SSAC regular-season crown and earning him SSAC Coach of the Year honors. Dalton State finished 24–7 overall and 15–3 in SSAC play, went a perfect 14–0 in Bandy Gym, and logged a marquee win over No. 9 Cumberlands (Ky.). The Birds returned to the NAIA National Championship, hosting First & Second Round action at Bandy Gym.
 
The recognition kept coming in 2025, as Ireland was named the NAIA National Coach of Character for exemplifying the association’s five core values with his program. In December of that same year, he became Dalton State’s all-time winningest head coach since the college’s transition to a four-year institution, surpassing Tony Ingle with his 132nd career victory.

Achievements
  • SSAC Coach of the Year (2025)
  • NAIA Coach of Character (2025)
  • SSAC Coach of Character (2025)
  • 4 NAIA All-Americans
  • 13 All-Conference selections
  • 3 SSAC Players of the Year
    • Omarion Smith - Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
    • Franklin Almonte - Defensive Player of the Year (2024)
    • Randy Bell - Player of the Year (2020)
  • 4 Daktronics Scholar-Athletes
  • 9 SSAC All-Academic team selections
Coaching Experience
Years School Position Record
2019-Present Dalton State Head Coach 115-66
2018-2019 Dalton State Interim Head Coach 18-13
2017-2018 Dalton State Assistant Coach
2016-2017 UT Martin Assistant Coach
2015-2016 Alcorn State Assistant Coach
2013-2015 Valdosta State Graduate Assistant
2012-2013 North Cobb Christian Assistant Coach

Year-by-Year At Dalton State
Year Record Pct. Conference Record Pct. Finish
2025-2026 8-4 .667 Southern States 3-2 .600 -----
2024-2025 24-7 .774 Southern States 15-3 .883 1st
2023-2024 15-13 .536 Southern States 11-9 .550 6th
2022-2023 17-12 .586 Southern States 11-9 .550 6th
2021-2022 14-16 .467 Southern States 7-11 .389 7th
2020-2021 7-11 .389 Southern States 6-7 .462 5th
2019-2020 30-3 .909 Southern States 15-3 .833 2nd
2018-2019* 18-13 .581 Southern States 12-9 .571 5th
*Denotes season as Interim Head Coach