Ian Stacker Profile

Ian Stacker has been coaching basketball professionally for over 25 years beginning initially conducting clinics in Melbourne’s primary and secondary schools, through to coaching Victorian under 18 & 20 Boys State teams at Australian National Championships, then into the National Basketball League firstly as an Assistant Coach for 10 years and then successfully as a Head Coach for 9 years, twice being voted the National Basketball League’s Coach of the Year.

His International experience includes coaching the Australian National Young Men’s team at two World championships, firstly in Melbourne in 1997 where his team won the first Gold Medal for Australia in International Men’s competition and then again in 2001 in Saitama Japan. He has also coached touring teams who have competed in the USA against major Division 1 college teams and coached teams who have competed in Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia, Croatia, Japan and Korea.

He has been among the final few candidates for the National Men’s team Head Coaching position and has also been assistant coach to the National Men’s program.

During his 12 years as the Victorian Basketball Associations State Director of Coaching he was responsible for the State’s elite level player and coach development programs which including conducting player development camps for players of all ages. He established the Victorian Basketball Coaches Association and was the driving force behind the establishment of the Australian Basketball Coaches Association.

His other experiences include visiting some of the USA top High School, College and NBA programs to learn from their coaches, these visits include Morgan Wootten at De Matha High School, Lute Olson at University of Arizona, Roy Williams while at Kansas University, Bob Knight while at Indiana, Dean Smith while at North Carolina, Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, Rick Pitino while at Kentucky and Mike D’Antoni at the Phoenix Suns. He has also travelled through Europe visiting coaches in Italy, Greece, and Slovenia and has attended the Yugoslavian Coaches Association Coaches Clinic held in Belgrade when Gregg Popovich from the San Antonio Spurs was the guest presenter.

In 2006 & 2007 Ian Stacker was employed as specialist training coach for Brad Newley as he prepared for the NBA draft, Stacker attended the 2006 & 2007 NBA pre draft camps with Newley as his coach and mentor and attended NBA work outs with Newley - Brad was eventually drafted by the Houston Rockets and is currently playing professionally in Greece.

Stacker is currently an Assistant Coach with the 2008 NBL Champions the Melbourne Tigers and is also employed by both Basketball Australia and the National Basketball League to conduct specialist training Camps and career advice to players in the 18 to 24 year old age group.

Ian Stacker has all the necessary skill, experience and contacts to provide an excellent scouting service for people wanting to know about the best talent available in Australia.

Testimonials

Roy Williams, Head Basketball Coach, University of North Carolina

"Ian Stacker has a wealth of basketball knowledge about youngsters in Australia and the game itself. I have tremendous respect for his judgement and would be extremely interested in a player Ian recommends to me. I can't believe anyone in Australia would be a better resource than Ian Stacker"

Chris Anstey - Melbourne Tigers Captain, Sydney 2000 Olympian & former NBA player with Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls. 2008 NBL Most Valuable Player

"Ian Stacker is not only one of Australian basketball's best coaches he is one of its best judges and developers of young talent.

I was part of Australia's 22 & Under Men's Basketball Team that won our Country's first ever Interantional Gold Medal. Ian not only hand selected the team, he guided us to wins over the USA, Argentina, Spain and Peurto Rico on the way to our World Championship.

Most recently, Ian built the Townsville Crocodiles NBL team from league easybeats to perenial finalist. He identified the best young talent Australia had, particularly Sam Mackinnon and Brad Newley, and provided them with a great environment to further their careers. The fact that these players chose Ian's program over the big city programs speaks for itself.

Ian knows Australian basketball as well as anyone in the world, and his opinions are highly regarded both within Australia and Worldwide."

Tony Ronzone – Director of Basketball Operations – Detroit Pistons NBA

“If I need information regarding the South Pacific I go to Ian Stacker who is the most respected basketball mind down under....his insight and knowledge makes my job easier....  as a former player in New Zealand and having first hand knowledge of basketball in the Pacific is very important as it’s a 16 hour journey by air...its important in my profession to get insight on players and Ian is the person that I trust and rely on for information for the Detroit Pistons...."

Tom Maher - Chinese National Women's team Head Coach, former Head Coach of the Australian National Women's team and former Head Coach of the Washington Mystics (WNBA)

“Ian Stacker has been a well respected coach in Australia for over 25 years, he knows Australian basketball at all levels and you would not find a more reliable and accurate place to find out about players from Australia than All Star Scouting.

All Star Scouting is a fantastic resource for professional basketball teams around the world to follow the current and rising talent coming out of Australia.”