Georgia Tech Eyes Stansbury for Men's Basketball

0:00On March 9, Georgia Tech is eyeing Rick Stansberry as a top candidate for their open men's basketball head coaching job. The veteran coach, who's been out of the game for about a year after assisting at Memphis, brings a proven track record from leading Mississippi State and Western Kentucky. At Mississippi State over 14 seasons, he notched 293 wins, making him 11th all time in the southeastern conference, and grabbed eight lead titles. Stansberry's success extends beyond the regular season, with six NCAA tournament appearances, and five national invitation tournament trips from the Badi and Bulldogs. He averaged 21 wins per year there and had 10 seasons with at least 20 victories. Switching to Western Kentucky, he added 139 wins over seven years, including four 20 win campaigns and three conference USA championships. Fans and boosters see his hiring as a quick turnaround move, given his history of packing arenas, like ten of the biggest crowds ever at Mississippi.

1:02State's home court, his broad experience spans head and assistant roles at places like Texas A and M and Austin Pay. Plus, he's navigated the modern transfer portal era, seamlessly. What stands out most is Stansberry's knack for recruiting and player growth. He landed top five high school classes and elite portal groups, like Memphis's number two class last year. Players under him have earned all conference honors, SEC player of the year nods, and even NBA draft spots, from stars like Robert Williams too, overlooked gems. With Georgia Tech needing a spark after recent struggles, Stansberry looks like an affordable, battle-tested option, ready to fill seats at McCamish, pavilion and rebuild fast.