Stark begins his third season as an assistant coach at Gannon in 2018-19. The Golden Knights have compiled a 40-20 record during his two seasons on the bench, including a 31-13 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record, two trips to the PSAC final four and an appearance in the 2017-18 Atlantic Region tournament.
Stark arrived at Gannon after spending the previous season as a graduate assistant coach at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Md. His responsibilities included recruiting, scouting, film breakdown, practice scouting sessions and individual workout sessions. Academically, he oversaw student-athletes’ class schedules and progress. Stark also developed two Prospect Camps per season to help bolster recruiting and fundraising.
At the 2016 NCAA Final Four in Houston, Texas, Stark was a bench coach for the Reese’s Senior All-Star game with former San Antonio Spurs head coach John Lucas and National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer George Gervin. He helped facilitate a week that included workouts for NBA coaches and scouts. The event concluded with the all-star game which featured Doug Collins as the head coach of the opposing team. Stark helped guide an all-star team that included Thomas Walkup (Stephen F Austin), Jaysean Paige (West Virginia), Shevon Thompson (George Mason and Erie Bayhawks), Ron Baker (Wichita State) and Fred Van Fleet (Wichita State).
“I would like to thank (Gannon Director of Athletics) Lisa Goddard McGuirk and Coach John Reilly for the opportunity to work at such a prestigious university,” said Stark upon his hiring. “I am honored to be able to watch our student-athletes perform at the highest levels in the classroom as well as be a championship contender year in and year out on the court. The Gannon University men’s basketball team has a rich tradition and it is something I am excited to be a part of."
Stark previously served as the head student assistant at his alma mater St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) University. While with the NCAA Division I Bonnies, he helped lead the program to its first-ever Atlantic-10 Conference championship during the 2011-12 season and advance to the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
While at St. Bonaventure, Stark helped mentor Andrew Nicholson, an Associated Press All-American and 2012 A-10 Player of the Year. Nicholson was later selected by the Orlando Magic in the first round (No. 19 overall) of the 2012 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft.
In addition to his coaching tenures at St. Bonaventure and Stevenson, Stark has also worked for The Hoop Group, where he served as Head Runner (2011-14) and Elite Team Camp Director (2015).
Stark spent his prep career at Gananda (N.Y.) High School where he earned 12 varsity letters as a multi-sport student-athlete in soccer, basketball and golf.
Stark graduated from St. Bonaventure in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications. He earned his master’s degree in communication studies from Stevenson (Md.) University in 2017.
