Living the dream: Gators great Cornelius Ingram is coaching his son and winning big at alma mater

HAWTHORNE, FLORIDA — In this sleepy town 16 miles east of Gainesville on State Road 20, Cornelius Ingram is what you’d call a big deal. The list of his achievements at Hawthorne High is impressive — and it continues to grow.

Last December, he coached the Hornets football team to a second straight state championship. Recently, he won a third title as the school’s girls basketball coach.

And of course, Ingram also was a pretty good athlete himself here two decades ago before becoming an All-SEC tight end at Florida.

In these parts, Ingram is, simply put, a “legend,” according to his son, CJ Ingram.

“He’s done everything,” CJ told Gators Online. “He was an All-American. He was a 4-star recruit I believe. Power 5 recruit. Won state championships. Got almost every award you could think of whether it’s player wise or in coaching.”

And consider this: Cornelius Ingram still is only 38.

Ingram’s success here, in his hometown and at his alma mater, “means everything. And I’ve won national championships over at UF.”

Cornelius Ingram first made his mark as a standout high school athlete

For Ingram, everything started at Hawthorne High in the early 2000s, when he was a football and basketball stud for the Hornets. He signed with Coach Ron Zook’s Florida football program as a quarterback but was so talented as a dual-sport athlete he also played hoops for Billy Donovan as a freshman. And on a team that included eight future NBA players — yes EIGHT — he played in 19 games as a reserve guard.

In his second year at Florida, Ingram moved to tight end. By 2007, he was an All-SEC performer. His 34 catches for 508 yards helped Gators quarterback Tim Tebow greatly during his Heisman-winning season.

Ingram was primed for bigger and better things but a serious knee injury cost him his senior season. The Eagles selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and he signed a four-year, $1.9 million contract. But another serious knee injury, this time during training camp in 2009, altered his path again and he athletically was never the same. He bounced around for a few years but never played in a regular-season game.

Ingram became Hawthorne’s football coach in December 2014. And neither he, nor the school’s athletic program, has looked back. He has won girls basketball state titles in 2020, ’23, and ’24. Football championships were claimed in 2022 and ’23. For good measure, he also coaches girls track and boys weightlifting.

His son, CJ, is making his own mark in Hawthorne

On those championship football teams, CJ Ingram was the squad’s starting quarterback.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound standout, a 2025 class 3-star, could play receiver or even quarterback at the next level. Meanwhile, as a guard he currently averages 24 points and eight rebounds a game on the basketball court. He’s interested in playing two sports in college — and most of the schools recruiting him have said they’d let him do that.

For Ingram, coaching his son has been the experience of a lifetime.

“It’s been extremely fun, man,” Ingram said. “He’s just an awesome kid. Very competitive. Has that ‘it’ factor. If it was up to me, of course I might sound a little biased — but I think he’s probably one of the most underrated prospects in the country. And that’s fine. He puts the work in. He’s been phenomenal for our program. And he has a lot to do with both of those state championships.”

Between father and son, which one of them is the better athlete at this stage of his career? That question was posed to the elder Ingram.

“I would have to go with myself,” Cornelius Ingram said. “And he’s a great athlete. But he has way more skill. Basketball court — even football. He’s a better natural passer than me. But just the all-around athlete, it would be me right now.”

Could the Gators sign Cornelius Ingram‘s son?

Florida is among those in pursuit of CJ Ingram. The Gators like him at receiver. Louisville, another school to watch, prefers him at quarterback. Both colleges have said he also can play basketball, too, if he wants.

Cornelius Ingram, of course, wouldn’t mind seeing his son land in Gainesville.

“He’s open, but of course that’s home. He’ll have to make that decision for himself,” he said. “Absolutely, you always want him to wear the orange and blue like I did. But times are different. He has his own decision to make. I really believe his recruitment is about to take off during the spring and even during summer with more basketball stuff.”

Thus far, Cornelius Ingram has been impressed with how the Gators have recruited his son. They’re not treating CJ like it’s a forgone conclusion he’ll be a Gator.

“Awesome job. Just the communication,” Ingram said. “They’re following everything he’s doing. Not only football, but everything he’s accomplished during the basketball season. Just a great line of communication with those guys and I know CJ loves it.”

For CJ Ingram, playing for his father is special, he said. He is acutely aware of dad’s significance to Hawthorne High and the community here as a whole.

His father never had a chance to truly fulfill his NFL dreams due to those awful injuries. Perhaps, CJ hopes, one day he can take that step for him.

“It’s definitely important because everything he pours into me is for a reason,” CJ Ingram said. “Me and him believe that God placed positions in our life for a reason so maybe it wasn’t for him. He’s the best coach any kid could want, whether it’s in sports or off-the-field situations.”

At Hawthorne High, Cornelius Ingram is loving life.

He’s not only winning big but he has a front-row seat to watch his son follow in his footsteps.

And he’s enjoying every moment of it.