CHICAGO – The UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has extended the contract of volleyball head coach Justin Ingram through the 2025 season. The new four-year pact was approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its January 20 meeting in Chicago.
 
"Coach Ingram has established a new standard of excellence for UIC Volleyball," said UIC Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz. "The Flames are winning championships on the court and setting records in the classroom. We're excited for Justin to lead the volleyball program for years to come."
 
"UIC is a special place and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue leading the Flames volleyball program into the future," said Ingram. "I appreciate the dedication to athletics and support shown by Chancellor Michael Amiridis, Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz and Deputy Athletics Director Farrah Manthei. Collectively, they believe in our championship culture and allow us the opportunity to educate and compete at the highest level. There are not enough positive things that can be said about our current and past assistant coaches, student-athletes, and supporters of UIC volleyball as they have worked selflessly for a common goal that has been impactful and rewarding. Go Flames!"
 
Ingram helped pilot UIC to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2021. After amassing a record of 13-3 in conference play during the regular season, the Flames ripped off three thrilling five-set victories in as many days as the Horizon League Tournament's fourth seed to eventually hoist the trophy. It was just the second-ever conference tournament title for UIC, and the first since 1989 (North Star Conference).
 
UIC made history while playing its second campaign in the same calendar year. After the pandemic pushed the fall 2020 slate to the spring of 2021, the Flames went 14-3 overall and 13-1 in league play as Ingram was named Horizon League Co-Coach of the Year. Ingram's squad advanced to the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament in early April, falling in a five-set battle at No. 1 Wright State.
 
UIC volleyball has enjoyed a meteoric rise during Ingram's tenure. In the five seasons prior to his arrival, the program had 70 wins overall, a winning percentage of .455, an average of 14 victories per year with no 20-win seasons to their credit. In Ingram's first five years at the helm, UIC has notched 89 victories, good for a .627 winning percentage, and recorded a pair of 20-win seasons in the past three years.
 
In the classroom, UIC volleyball has posted a perfect 100% Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in each year of Ingram's tenure and a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) in two of the past three years. In spring 2021, senior Alexandria Hicks earned the UIC Public Health Promise Award, the college's highest honor for an undergraduate. Overall, the Flames recorded a program-record 3.54 team GPA in 2020-21.
 
While with UIC, Ingram has tutored seven All-Horizon League First Team selections, including three-time honoree Paola Santiago. Santiago, who is expected to return for the Flames in 2022, also picked up American Volleyball Coaches Association All-North Region Honorable Mention in the fall. UIC has had a pair of Horizon League Freshmen of the Year during the Ingram era, most recently Becca Oldendorf in the 2020-21 season. In addition, he has mentored eight All-Newcomer Team honorees since 2017, including 2021 recipient Salma Abdelhady.
 
Prior to UIC, Ingram put together successful stints as head coach at Southern Illinois and Arkansas State. His career also includes stops as an assistant at Kansas State and Houston.