Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Walk to Benefit of Family of Cobb County Soccer Coach Killed While Jogging

Tacoma
Perry
By TACOMA PERRY/myfoxatlanta

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - It's been three months since a beloved soccer coach and teacher was killed while jogging but his memory is still alive. His friends and former students continue to be inspired by Coach Jay Ingram by wearing his favorite color and chanting his favorite phrase.

There are some people you meet in life that leave marks not even death can erase. Jeffery Ingram was one of the those people.

“He loved to be out there. He loved to teach the game. He just loved to have fun,” said Corrine Ingram.

Fun was Jeffery "Jay" Ingram's middle name. The Cobb County physical education teacher and soccer coach, who often sported a mohawk, wasn't one to sit on the sidelines.

“He made up crazy games like toilet tag and hot dog tag and dodge the hoop. And he was right there with them playing and just having fun,” Jay Ingram’s widow, Corinne.

His wife Corrine says in the last couple of years, he had become a runner. He ran every morning at 4:30 but was always home by 5:30 - except one dark morning in January.

“And at 5:30 he wasn't back and I knew something wasn't right but I thinking maybe he's just doing a longer run today,” said Corrine Ingram.

But the police cars just outside their subdivision confirmed her fears.

“He had been hit.”

Although Jay lost his life, his spirit is more alive than ever.

“He would call you and see how your day was, or text you and ask what was new in life, even when he wasn't your coach. So you felt like you had a personal connection with him,” said fromer student Caroline Tilton.

Caroline Tilton is one of hundreds of girls Ingram coached in the North Atlanta Soccer Association. Girls who now wear yellow, Coach Jay's favorite color, in tribute to him.

“When I get ready in the morning, I alway make sure I put some kind of yellow bracelet on just as a reminder of what would Jay do today -- just to stay positive,” said Tilton.

They also keep his memory alive during games with one particular phrase he repeated often.

“He'd ask how many touches you did at practice. If you got 20 he'd say yeah baby or if you got 30, yeah baby or if you scored a goal, instead of good job, he'd be like, yeah baby,” said Tilton.

Corinne says her faith is getting her through. The love she feels from all the people he inspired -- in the form of a special color or funny phrase -- reminds her that his spirit is still here.

“It makes all of us just think, what would he do in this situation? How can I be more positive? What can I do with my life now? I want to do something that makes me have fun and I enjoy everyday,” said Corinne Ingram.

Next Sunday. April 22, the North Atlanta Soccer Association will host the Coach Jay 5K - a walk to benefit Coach Jay's wife and two children. More information about how you can participate, visit http://www.coachjay5k.com/index.html

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