Who is Ricky Stokes? Sadly most common sports fans will not be able to recognize him by name, but he is the man behind an amazingly long list of accomplishments.
Former Virginia basketball player (1981-84) and current East Carolina head basketball coach, Stokes has been an example of success on both the court and the bench.
As a player, Stokes was a member of the glory Virginia teams of the early '80s that dominated the ACC. As starting point guard in his four years at the University, Stokes' teams compiled an eye-popping 109-25 overall record (.813 winning percentage) and a 43-13 (.768) ACC record en route to three straight conference championships.
From 1980 to 1983, Stokes, former Virginia basketball legend Ralph Sampson and the rest of the Virginia squad proved to be the ACC team to beat. In Stokes' four years, Virginia made four NCAA Tournament appearances 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 at an all-time high. Two Final Fours were fabulous. In the [first], the only regret is that we did not win it. I have often said that my freshman 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 talented players, it was great."
In the 1980-81 season, Stokes' freshman year, Virginia advanced to the Final Four. The second Final Four appearance proved tougher without the help of Samson in Stokes' final year. Despite the team's fifth place finish during the ACC regular season, Stokes' leadership helped the team advance and earned him the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which is presented annually to the country's finest player under six 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 under six feet tall," Stokes said. "I did not think it existed because he was a practical joker. He said the trophy was only half-size."
Former Virginia assistant coach (1976-82, 88-90) and current athletic director Craig Littlepage said he believes Stokes' time at Virginia helped turn around the school's style of play.
"Prior to Ricky coming to the University, we had teams that were talented but were very methodical," Littlepage said. "Ricky and [former Virginia player] Othell Wilson, as a tandem coming in the same year, gave us a dimension that we had not had at the University of Virginia. They changed us into a team that could, for a number of years, move up and down the floor with anybody in the country."
After graduation, Stokes decided to give coaching a try, so he served as a graduate assistant at Virginia from 1984-85. Next, he served as assistant coach for Bowling Green (one year), Wake Forest (eight years), Virginia again (one year), Texas (one year) and recently South Carolina (two years). At South Carolina, under head coach Dave Odom, Stokes helped lead the Gamecocks to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004 and the 2005 NIT Championship.
From 1999-03, Stokes served on a basketball program a little closer to home. As the Virginia Tech head coach, Stokes helped recruit the current roster of Hokie players. Throughout his coaching career, Stokes has garnered a reputation for excellent recruiting. In his years at Wake Forest, where he enjoyed two ACC championships, he helped bring in future NBA stars such as Tim Duncan and Rodney Rodgers.
"I think of all the things that he has done, he has had a tremendous level of success in terms of recruitment and player development," Littlepage said. "He and his staff members did a great job of recruiting and developing talent in the beginning of the Wake Forest program as we know it today."
Up to this point, Stokes has amassed 13 NCAA Tournament appearances (both as a coach and a player), two Final Four appearances and an NIT Championship. In his 18 years as a coach, he has compiled a record of 310-236 (.568).
Even though Stokes is happy with his current post at East Carolina, he still acknowledged his time at Virginia was an unforgettable experience.
"I tried to see if I could fail all of my classes to come back for another year," he said. "I am glad I played for the University of Virginia. Academically and with basketball, it was a great time. I am glad I am a Wahoo."
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