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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Former BG Assistant Named Associate Commissioner For Men's Basketball
June 17, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today the addition of Ricky Stokes as Associate Commissioner For Men's Basketball. Stokes brings to the conference over 20 years of experience in Division I men's basketball, both as an administrator and coach, including six years as a head basketball coach.
In his new position, Stokes will be the conference liaison to the 12 men's basketball coaches, oversee the officiating program and game management issues, develop the regular season schedule and facilitate television scheduling issues, manage the men's basketball tournament and participate in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at furthering the men's basketball programs.
“I am very pleased that Ricky (Stokes) has agreed to join the Mid-American Conference,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. “He brings a wealth of experiences as a former student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach and administrator that have helped prepare him for this position. I look forward to Ricky playing a significant role in managing the strategic direction of the Conference's men's basketball program.”
A native of Richmond, Va., Stokes graduated from the University of Virginia in 1984 and was a four-year letter winner in basketball. Stokes played in a Cavalier school record 134 consecutive games, including two NCAA Final Four appearances. As a freshman in 1980-81, Stokes was part of a Virginia team that featured Ralph Sampson and advanced to the NCAA Final Four with Indiana, North Carolina and LSU, before falling to the Tar Heels, 78-65, in the national semifinals. As a senior in the 1983-84 campaign, Stokes, along with Rick Carlisle, Olden Polynice and Othell Wilson, advanced to the NCAA Final Four with Georgetown, Houston and Kentucky, before falling to Houston, 49-47 in overtime in the national semifinals. Following his collegiate career, Stokes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
“I am thrilled to return to the Mid-American Conference where I began my college coaching career,” said Stokes. “I look forward to working with Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, his staff and the basketball coaches throughout the MAC to enhance and promote this storied conference. I am proud to be a part of the history and tradition of this conference and I'm eager to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”
Stokes began his collegiate coaching career at Bowling Green in 1988 as an assistant coach before joining Wake Forest as an assistant in 1989. Stokes spent eight years (1989-1997) at Wake Forest, where the Demon Deacons, along with Tim Duncan, won two ACC Championships and consistently advanced in the NCAA tournament. Stokes returned to his alma mater, the University of Virginia, as an assistant coach in 1997. After one season at Virginia, Stokes was named Associate Head Basketball Coach at the University of Texas in 1998. The following year he was named the head basketball coach at Virginia Tech in 1999. Stokes spent four years (1999-2003) at Virginia Tech as head coach and collected a career record of 46-69. During his time in Blacksburg, Va., Stokes had his best season in 1999-2000 with a 16-15 record, including an 8-8 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In Stokes final three years as head coach at Virginia Tech, the Hokies competed in the Big East Conference.
In 2003, Stokes joined South Carolina as an assistant coach and spent two seasons with the Gamecocks. In 2005, the Gamecocks won the NIT by defeating St. Joseph's. Stokes was named head basketball coach at East Carolina in 2005 and stepped down after two seasons to join athletic administration.
Prior to joining the MAC, Stokes spent the last year at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Athletics in the role of Development Officer. In that capacity, Stokes was responsible for the development and implementation of strategic fundraising initiatives to support budgets for seven varsity sports. He also worked closely with the university head coaches to provide leadership and supervision for their respective programs. During this past fiscal year, Stokes raised over $1.5 million for the University of Pennsylvania to serve over 300 student-athletes.
Stokes received his Master's Degree in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988. Stokes and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Sydney.
Other Comments on Ricky Stokes:
“Ricky Stokes has been a part of highly successful basketball programs as a player and as a coach. He is also an innovative thinker and a hard worker who will bring creative concepts and a strong work ethic to his new position as Associate Commissioner for Men's Basketball. The MAC coaches and athletic directors will enjoy working with him.”
--Terry Holland, Director of Athletics, East Carolina University.
“Ricky (Stokes) brings great enthusiasm for the game of college basketball as it has been such an important part of his life. He will do a wonderful job because he understands the college game, working with officials and running a conference tournament. This is a tremendous opportunity for Ricky and a great hire by the Mid-American Conference.”
--Gene Corrigan, retired Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and former Director of Athletics for Notre Dame University and the University of Virginia.
“I've known Ricky Stokes since the time he was a high school prospect and later enrolled at the University of Virginia. He has an engaging personality and he's been a true professional in everything he's done related to his playing, coaching, and professional careers. He has demonstrated integrity, a great work ethic, a sound and creative basketball mind, and a great way of connecting with colleagues from diverse constituent groups. His strong interpersonal skills and his knowledge of the basketball community will serve him and the Mid-American Conference well."
--Craig Littlepage, Director of Athletics, University of Virginia.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of 11 members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in six (6) states – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. In addition a 13th school – Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. -- is an affiliate member for football only.
Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). Temple University (2007) competes in the East Division in football only.
The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
In his new position, Stokes will be the conference liaison to the 12 men's basketball coaches, oversee the officiating program and game management issues, develop the regular season schedule and facilitate television scheduling issues, manage the men's basketball tournament and participate in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at furthering the men's basketball programs.
“I am very pleased that Ricky (Stokes) has agreed to join the Mid-American Conference,” said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. “He brings a wealth of experiences as a former student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach and administrator that have helped prepare him for this position. I look forward to Ricky playing a significant role in managing the strategic direction of the Conference's men's basketball program.”
A native of Richmond, Va., Stokes graduated from the University of Virginia in 1984 and was a four-year letter winner in basketball. Stokes played in a Cavalier school record 134 consecutive games, including two NCAA Final Four appearances. As a freshman in 1980-81, Stokes was part of a Virginia team that featured Ralph Sampson and advanced to the NCAA Final Four with Indiana, North Carolina and LSU, before falling to the Tar Heels, 78-65, in the national semifinals. As a senior in the 1983-84 campaign, Stokes, along with Rick Carlisle, Olden Polynice and Othell Wilson, advanced to the NCAA Final Four with Georgetown, Houston and Kentucky, before falling to Houston, 49-47 in overtime in the national semifinals. Following his collegiate career, Stokes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
“I am thrilled to return to the Mid-American Conference where I began my college coaching career,” said Stokes. “I look forward to working with Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, his staff and the basketball coaches throughout the MAC to enhance and promote this storied conference. I am proud to be a part of the history and tradition of this conference and I'm eager to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”
Stokes began his collegiate coaching career at Bowling Green in 1988 as an assistant coach before joining Wake Forest as an assistant in 1989. Stokes spent eight years (1989-1997) at Wake Forest, where the Demon Deacons, along with Tim Duncan, won two ACC Championships and consistently advanced in the NCAA tournament. Stokes returned to his alma mater, the University of Virginia, as an assistant coach in 1997. After one season at Virginia, Stokes was named Associate Head Basketball Coach at the University of Texas in 1998. The following year he was named the head basketball coach at Virginia Tech in 1999. Stokes spent four years (1999-2003) at Virginia Tech as head coach and collected a career record of 46-69. During his time in Blacksburg, Va., Stokes had his best season in 1999-2000 with a 16-15 record, including an 8-8 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In Stokes final three years as head coach at Virginia Tech, the Hokies competed in the Big East Conference.
In 2003, Stokes joined South Carolina as an assistant coach and spent two seasons with the Gamecocks. In 2005, the Gamecocks won the NIT by defeating St. Joseph's. Stokes was named head basketball coach at East Carolina in 2005 and stepped down after two seasons to join athletic administration.
Prior to joining the MAC, Stokes spent the last year at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Athletics in the role of Development Officer. In that capacity, Stokes was responsible for the development and implementation of strategic fundraising initiatives to support budgets for seven varsity sports. He also worked closely with the university head coaches to provide leadership and supervision for their respective programs. During this past fiscal year, Stokes raised over $1.5 million for the University of Pennsylvania to serve over 300 student-athletes.
Stokes received his Master's Degree in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988. Stokes and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Sydney.
Other Comments on Ricky Stokes:
“Ricky Stokes has been a part of highly successful basketball programs as a player and as a coach. He is also an innovative thinker and a hard worker who will bring creative concepts and a strong work ethic to his new position as Associate Commissioner for Men's Basketball. The MAC coaches and athletic directors will enjoy working with him.”
--Terry Holland, Director of Athletics, East Carolina University.
“Ricky (Stokes) brings great enthusiasm for the game of college basketball as it has been such an important part of his life. He will do a wonderful job because he understands the college game, working with officials and running a conference tournament. This is a tremendous opportunity for Ricky and a great hire by the Mid-American Conference.”
--Gene Corrigan, retired Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and former Director of Athletics for Notre Dame University and the University of Virginia.
“I've known Ricky Stokes since the time he was a high school prospect and later enrolled at the University of Virginia. He has an engaging personality and he's been a true professional in everything he's done related to his playing, coaching, and professional careers. He has demonstrated integrity, a great work ethic, a sound and creative basketball mind, and a great way of connecting with colleagues from diverse constituent groups. His strong interpersonal skills and his knowledge of the basketball community will serve him and the Mid-American Conference well."
--Craig Littlepage, Director of Athletics, University of Virginia.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 23 championships and is one of 11 members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in six (6) states – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. In addition a 13th school – Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. -- is an affiliate member for football only.
Current MAC schools that hold full membership and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). Temple University (2007) competes in the East Division in football only.
The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
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