Former Cavalier point guard excels as coach

Current East Carolina head basketball coach Ricky Stokes led Virginia to two Final Fours, three ACC titles in early '80s

James Wagner, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

(April 26, 2005) Whois Ricky Stokes? Sadly most common sports fans will not be able torecognize him by name, but he is the man behind an amazingly long listof accomplishments.

Former Virginia basketball player (1981-84) and current EastCarolina head basketball coach, Stokes has been an example of successon both the court and the bench.

As a player, Stokes was a member of the glory Virginia teams ofthe early '80s that dominated the ACC. As starting point guard in hisfour years at the University, Stokes' teams compiled an eye-popping109-25 overall record (.813 winning percentage) and a 43-13 (.768) ACCrecord en route to three straight conference championships.

From 1980 to 1983, Stokes, former Virginia basketball legendRalph Sampson and the rest of the Virginia squad proved to be the ACCteam to beat. In Stokes' four years, Virginia made four NCAA Tournamentappearances and in the last three years of the Ralph Sampson Era(1980-83), Virginia earned a No. 1 seed.

"It was a great, great time," Stokes said. "Basketball was atan all-time high. Two Final Fours were fabulous. In the [first], theonly regret is that we did not win it. I have often said that myfreshman year was the most talented team that I have ever played on --even compared to the one I played on my senior year with some talentedplayers, it was great."

In the 1980-81 season, Stokes' freshman year, Virginia advancedto the Final Four. The second Final Four appearance proved tougherwithout the help of Samson in Stokes' final year. Despite the team'sfifth place finish during the ACC regular season, Stokes' leadershiphelped the team advance and earned him the Frances Pomeroy NaismithAward, which is presented annually to the country's finest player undersix feet tall.

"When we were coming back the Final Four, [then-Virginia coach]Terry Holland told me that I had won an award for the best player undersix feet tall," Stokes said. "I did not think it existed because he wasa practical joker. He said the trophy was only half-size."

Former Virginia assistant coach (1976-82, 88-90) and currentathletic director Craig Littlepage said he believes Stokes' time atVirginia helped turn around the school's style of play.

"Prior to Ricky coming to the University, we had teams thatwere talented but were very methodical," Littlepage said. "Ricky and[former Virginia player] Othell Wilson, as a tandem coming in the sameyear, gave us a dimension that we had not had at the University ofVirginia. They changed us into a team that could, for a number ofyears, move up and down the floor with anybody in the country."

After graduation, Stokes decided to give coaching a try, so heserved as a graduate assistant at Virginia from 1984-85. Next, heserved as assistant coach for Bowling Green (one year), Wake Forest(eight years), Virginia again (one year), Texas (one year) and recentlySouth Carolina (two years). At South Carolina, under head coach DaveOdom, Stokes helped lead the Gamecocks to an NCAA Tournament appearancein 2004 and the 2005 NIT Championship.

From 1999-03, Stokes served on a basketball program a littlecloser to home. As the Virginia Tech head coach, Stokes helped recruitthe current roster of Hokie players. Throughout his coaching career,Stokes has garnered a reputation for excellent recruiting. In his yearsat Wake Forest, where he enjoyed two ACC championships, he helped bringin future NBA stars such as Tim Duncan and Rodney Rodgers.

"I think of all the things that he has done, he has had atremendous level of success in terms of recruitment and playerdevelopment," Littlepage said. "He and his staff members did a greatjob of recruiting and developing talent in the beginning of the WakeForest program as we know it today."

Up to this point, Stokes has amassed 13 NCAA Tournamentappearances (both as a coach and a player), two Final Four appearancesand an NIT Championship. In his 18 years as a coach, he has compiled arecord of 310-236 (.568).

Even though Stokes is happy with his current post at EastCarolina, he still acknowledged his time at Virginia was anunforgettable experience.

"I tried to see if I could fail all of my classes to come backfor another year," he said. "I am glad I played for the University ofVirginia. Academically and with basketball, it was a great time. I amglad I am a Wahoo."