Kevin Stallings
Encyclopedia
Kevin Stallings is currently in his 11th season as the head men’s basketball
coach at Vanderbilt University
. Previously, he served as head coach at Illinois State University
and was an assistant coach at Purdue University and the University of Kansas
.
. He graduated from Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Illinois
in 1978, where he played guard (6'5", 190 lbs.) for four years under legendary coach Vergil Fletcher and won three conference championships. The Kahoks went 30-1 his junior season and lost to De La Salle
in the first round of the Illinois state tournament, 67-66. In his senior season, the Kahoks finished 28-3 and finished third in the state tournament. They lost in the semi-finals 55-53 to eventual champion Lockport Central
, who finished the season 33-0. Stallings still holds Collinsville records for career assists (665), season assists (284) and season steals (146).
After a year at Belleville Junior College
in Belleville, Illinois
, where his team went 28-9 and made the NJCAA tournament, Stallings enrolled at Purdue
and played three years. His first season, the Boilermakers finished with a 27-8 record under coach Lee Rose and reached the NCAA
Final Four. Purdue reached the NIT Final Four in Stallings’ junior and senior seasons, Gene Keady’s
first two seasons at the helm of the Boilermakers. Stallings started 17 games his senior season and averaged 4.3 points and 2.6 assists per game.
Stallings received a bachelor of science
in business management in 1982 and a master of science
in counseling in 1985, both from Purdue.
. From 1982 to 1988, Purdue amassed a 140-44 record, winning three Big Ten Championships (two shared and one outright) and reaching the NCAA Tournament all six years. The highlight was a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1988, when the Boilermakers finished 29-4 and earned a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
, who had taken over at Kansas
after Larry Brown
's surprising NCAA Tournament championship. During the next five seasons, the Jayhawks compiled a 132-38 record and reached four NCAA Tournaments. They advanced to the Final Four twice. In 1991, they lost to Duke
in the finals, 72-65, while in 1993, they lost in the semifinals to North Carolina
, 78-68.
move to the University of Washington
. The Redbirds went 123-63 during his six-year tenure and reached the NCAA Tournament and the NIT twice each. His winning percentage of .661 is the highest ever by an Illinois State coach who coached at least five years.
Following a 16-11 (Missouri Valley Conference
: 12-6, 4th) record his first season, Stallings led Illinois State a 20-13 record (MVC: 13-5, 2nd) in his second year. They lost to Washington State 83-80 in the second round of the 1995 NIT. In 1995-96, the Redbirds (22-12 overall, 13-5 MVC) again finished second in the MVC and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT, where they lost to Tulane 83-72.
In 1996-97, Illinois State (24-6, 14-4) won the Missouri Valley Conference
regular season title and tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament
for the first time since 1990. The Redbirds lost to Iowa State in the first round 69-57 in Auburn Hills, Michigan
.
In 1997-98, led by MVC player of the year Rico Hill (18.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Dan Muller
(13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Illinois State (25-6, 16-2) swept the MVC regular season and tournament titles for the second consecutive year. The Redbirds beat Tennessee 82-81 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
in Sacramento, California, before losing to 4th-ranked Arizona in the second round 82-49. Following the season, Stallings was named MVC coach of the year. After losing four starters, the Redbirds fell back to 16-15 (MVC: 7-11, 7th) in Stallings’ final year.
: 8-8). They were led by SEC Player of the Year Dan Langhi
, who led the SEC with 22.1 points per game.
The Commodores slipped to 15-15 (SEC: 4-12) in 2000-01 and missed the postseason, although Matt Freije
became only the fifth Commodore to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
In 2001-02, they improved marginally to 17-15 (SEC: 6-10). Wins at Tennessee and against No. 11 Kentucky in the final week helped Vanderbilt secure an NIT berth. They beat Houston 59-50 in the opening round before losing in the next. Freije earned third-team All-SEC honors, and Brian Thornton became the sixth Commodore to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
In 2002-03, Stallings suffered the only losing season of his career, when the Commodores slumped to 11-18 (SEC: 3-13). Freije was named second-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches.
In 2003-04, Stallings led the Commodores to a 23-10 record (SEC: 8-8) and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament
. The Commodores had a 66-60 regular season win over No. 4 Kentucky
and knocked off No. 9 Mississippi State
in the SEC Tournament before losing to Florida
in the semi-finals. In the NCAA tournament, Vanderbilt received a No. 6 seed and defeated Western Michigan
71-58 in the first round. In the second round, the Commodores trailed third-seeded North Carolina State 67-56 with 3:45 to play, but Freije keyed a 19-6 Vanderbilt run to end the game for a 75-73 win. Vanderbilt lost to eventual national champion Connecticut
73-53 in the Sweet Sixteen. Freije (18.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was named first-team All-SEC and finished as Vanderbilt’s leading all-time scorer (1,891 points).
In 2004-05, the Commodores narrowly missed the NCAA tournament, finishing 20-14 (SEC: 8-8). Vanderbilt beat Indiana
and Wichita State in the NIT before losing to Memphis
in the quarterfinals, 81-68. Shan Foster
became the seventh Commodore to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team and the third during Stallings’ tenure.
In 2005-06, Vanderbilt finished 17-13 (SEC: 7-9) and lost to Notre Dame
79-69 in the first round of the NIT. Foster was named first-team All-SEC.
In 2006-07
, Vanderbilt had a 22-12 record (SEC East: 10-6, 2nd) and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament
. Following the end of the regular season, Stallings was named SEC coach of the year by his fellow SEC coaches, while senior Derrick Byars
was named SEC player of the year.
In 2007-08, Vanderbilt won its first 16 games of the season en route to a 26-8 record (10-6 SEC). After going 2-4 to start conference play, the Commodores notched seven straight wins, including a victory over then-No. 1 Tennessee, the second straight season Stallings defeated a top-ranked team. Vanderbilt received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, 13th-seeded Siena routed the Commodores in the first round, 83-62. Shan Foster became the school's all-time leading scorer and was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year by the SEC's coaches and the Associated Press.
In 2008-09, Stallings had four freshmen playing significant minutes on one of the youngest rosters in the nation. In a down year for the SEC, the Commodores went 19-12 and went 8-8 in conference play, but did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament or the NIT at the season's end.
The 2009-10 season represented a bounceback for the Commodores, who rattled of 10 straight victories after a 6-3 start and went on to post a 12-4 record in SEC play, the best-ever under Stallings. This included season sweeps of Florida and Tennessee, and Vanderbilt finished second in the SEC East behind Kentucky. The Commodores again received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament but were shocked again, this time by 13th-seeded Murray State, 66-65. However, three NCAA bids in four years is Vanderbilt's best postseason run since the early 1990s. Jermaine Beal was named First Team All-SEC after leading Vanderbilt in scoring and assists, and Stallings was named SEC Coach of the Year for the second time in four seasons.
2010-11 Season: Stallings lead Vanderbilt to a 23-11 overall record, 9-7 in the SEC. This year's team was widely considered Vanderbilt's strongest to date, with Stalling's typical makeup of a strong outside shooting presence and a powerful inside post man. The high expectations were largely rooted in the additions of players described as having natural athleticism who could make thrilling and explosive plays, an element that in previous years had been regarded as a weakness of the Vanderbilt team. After an 11-2 preseason record including a win over then 8th ranked UNC, Stallings lead the team to reach a consensus AP and Coaches ranking of 18. Vanderbilt then finished conference play 1-3 and went 2-1 in the SEC Tournament and headed to the NCAA Tournament as a 5 seed. Another upset ensued as 12 seeded Richmond knocked Vanderbilt out of the tournament in the first round. In the last 3 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, despite favorable seedings, Vanderbilt went 0-3, being upset by 13 seeds (twice) and this season by a 12 seed. Highly regarded in preceding years, after being upset in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive appearance, for the first time in his Vanderbilt career, Stallings has been the subject of heavy criticism for inconsistent performances and weak season finishes.
According to a Vanderbilt tax form, Stallings made $981,406 in 2003. His salary made him one of the five highest paid non-director/board member Vanderbilt employees. In 2007, his salary was $1,339,643, which was more than what Coach Krzyzewski earned at Duke.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball
The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...
. Previously, he served as head coach at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
and was an assistant coach at Purdue University and the University of Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks Basketball
The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks and is one of the most successful and prestigious programs in the history of college basketball...
.
High school & college
Stallings was born in Collinsville, IllinoisCollinsville, Illinois
Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area...
. He graduated from Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area...
in 1978, where he played guard (6'5", 190 lbs.) for four years under legendary coach Vergil Fletcher and won three conference championships. The Kahoks went 30-1 his junior season and lost to De La Salle
De La Salle Institute
De La Salle Institute is a Catholic, Lasallian, secondary school located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. The school is currently housed on two separate campuses. The original school, now called the Institute Campus is for men...
in the first round of the Illinois state tournament, 67-66. In his senior season, the Kahoks finished 28-3 and finished third in the state tournament. They lost in the semi-finals 55-53 to eventual champion Lockport Central
Lockport Township High School
Lockport Township High School is a public high school in Lockport, Illinois, United States. It also serves the communities of Homer Glen, Fairmont, parts of Crest Hill, and parts of Joliet. More than 3,800 students are enrolled in grades 9 through 12....
, who finished the season 33-0. Stallings still holds Collinsville records for career assists (665), season assists (284) and season steals (146).
After a year at Belleville Junior College
Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College is the sixth largest community college in Illinois with campuses in Belleville, Granite City, and Red Bud, plus 20 off-campus sites throughout the district, including Scott Air Force Base and East St. Louis Community College Center...
in Belleville, Illinois
Belleville, Illinois
Belleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
, where his team went 28-9 and made the NJCAA tournament, Stallings enrolled at Purdue
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and played three years. His first season, the Boilermakers finished with a 27-8 record under coach Lee Rose and reached the NCAA
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
Final Four. Purdue reached the NIT Final Four in Stallings’ junior and senior seasons, Gene Keady’s
Gene Keady
Lloyd Eugene "Gene" Keady is a basketball coach. Currently an assistant coach at St. John's, he is most notable for being the head basketball coach at Purdue University for 25 years, from 1980 to 2005.-Kansas State :...
first two seasons at the helm of the Boilermakers. Stallings started 17 games his senior season and averaged 4.3 points and 2.6 assists per game.
Stallings received a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in business management in 1982 and a master of science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in counseling in 1985, both from Purdue.
Purdue
After graduation in 1982, Stallings began as assistant coach at Purdue under Gene KeadyGene Keady
Lloyd Eugene "Gene" Keady is a basketball coach. Currently an assistant coach at St. John's, he is most notable for being the head basketball coach at Purdue University for 25 years, from 1980 to 2005.-Kansas State :...
. From 1982 to 1988, Purdue amassed a 140-44 record, winning three Big Ten Championships (two shared and one outright) and reaching the NCAA Tournament all six years. The highlight was a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1988, when the Boilermakers finished 29-4 and earned a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas
In 1988, Stallings was hired by Roy WilliamsRoy Williams (coach)
Roy Williams is head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina. After averaging nearly an 80% win percentage in 15 seasons at the University of Kansas, he became the eighteenth head coach at North Carolina when he replaced Matt Doherty in 2003...
, who had taken over at Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks Basketball
The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks and is one of the most successful and prestigious programs in the history of college basketball...
after Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
's surprising NCAA Tournament championship. During the next five seasons, the Jayhawks compiled a 132-38 record and reached four NCAA Tournaments. They advanced to the Final Four twice. In 1991, they lost to Duke
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
in the finals, 72-65, while in 1993, they lost in the semifinals to North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
, 78-68.
Illinois State
In 1993, Stallings became the 15th head coach at Illinois State following Bob Bender’sBob Bender
Robert Michael "Bob" Bender is a basketball coach, currently working as an assistant with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He attended Bloomington High School in Bloomington, IL, where he was an All-American in basketball. He began his college career at Indiana University, under Bobby Knight...
move to the University of Washington
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
. The Redbirds went 123-63 during his six-year tenure and reached the NCAA Tournament and the NIT twice each. His winning percentage of .661 is the highest ever by an Illinois State coach who coached at least five years.
Following a 16-11 (Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
: 12-6, 4th) record his first season, Stallings led Illinois State a 20-13 record (MVC: 13-5, 2nd) in his second year. They lost to Washington State 83-80 in the second round of the 1995 NIT. In 1995-96, the Redbirds (22-12 overall, 13-5 MVC) again finished second in the MVC and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT, where they lost to Tulane 83-72.
In 1996-97, Illinois State (24-6, 14-4) won the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
regular season title and tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
for the first time since 1990. The Redbirds lost to Iowa State in the first round 69-57 in Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...
.
In 1997-98, led by MVC player of the year Rico Hill (18.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and Dan Muller
Dan Muller
Dan Muller aka Daniel Cody Muller , artist, illustrator and writer of the American West; Muller was born in Choteau, Montana, October 11, 1889 to Carl and Augusta Muller....
(13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Illinois State (25-6, 16-2) swept the MVC regular season and tournament titles for the second consecutive year. The Redbirds beat Tennessee 82-81 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
in Sacramento, California, before losing to 4th-ranked Arizona in the second round 82-49. Following the season, Stallings was named MVC coach of the year. After losing four starters, the Redbirds fell back to 16-15 (MVC: 7-11, 7th) in Stallings’ final year.
Vanderbilt
Stallings became head coach at Vanderbilt in 1999, replacing Jan van Breda Kolff. In his first season, the Commodores rebounded from a 14-15 record to finish 19-11 (Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
: 8-8). They were led by SEC Player of the Year Dan Langhi
Dan Langhi
Daniel Matthew Langhi is an American professional basketball player. He was raised in the small western Kentucky town of Benton. In addition to his high school basketball career, where he finish as the runner-up for Kentucky's prestigious "Mr. Basketball" award, Langhi won state titles as a member...
, who led the SEC with 22.1 points per game.
The Commodores slipped to 15-15 (SEC: 4-12) in 2000-01 and missed the postseason, although Matt Freije
Matt Freije
Matthew Wayne Freije is a Lebanese American professional basketball player who currently plays for Hebraica y Macabi in Uruguay. Freije attended Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas before attending Vanderbilt University where he was an All-SEC performer...
became only the fifth Commodore to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
In 2001-02, they improved marginally to 17-15 (SEC: 6-10). Wins at Tennessee and against No. 11 Kentucky in the final week helped Vanderbilt secure an NIT berth. They beat Houston 59-50 in the opening round before losing in the next. Freije earned third-team All-SEC honors, and Brian Thornton became the sixth Commodore to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
In 2002-03, Stallings suffered the only losing season of his career, when the Commodores slumped to 11-18 (SEC: 3-13). Freije was named second-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches.
In 2003-04, Stallings led the Commodores to a 23-10 record (SEC: 8-8) and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
. The Commodores had a 66-60 regular season win over No. 4 Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
and knocked off No. 9 Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
in the SEC Tournament before losing to Florida
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
in the semi-finals. In the NCAA tournament, Vanderbilt received a No. 6 seed and defeated Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos
The Western Michigan Broncos are a NCAA Division I FBS team representing Western Michigan University. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's baseball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field,...
71-58 in the first round. In the second round, the Commodores trailed third-seeded North Carolina State 67-56 with 3:45 to play, but Freije keyed a 19-6 Vanderbilt run to end the game for a 75-73 win. Vanderbilt lost to eventual national champion Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
73-53 in the Sweet Sixteen. Freije (18.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was named first-team All-SEC and finished as Vanderbilt’s leading all-time scorer (1,891 points).
In 2004-05, the Commodores narrowly missed the NCAA tournament, finishing 20-14 (SEC: 8-8). Vanderbilt beat Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
and Wichita State in the NIT before losing to Memphis
Memphis Tigers
The Memphis Tigers represent the University of Memphis in Division I of the NCAA. They are members of C-USA and currently feature nine women's sports and nine men's sports...
in the quarterfinals, 81-68. Shan Foster
Shan Foster
Shan Donte Foster is an American professional basketball player. Foster played shooting guard for the Commodores college basketball team at Vanderbilt University. He is the school's all-time leader in both points and three-point baskets made, and is also among the Southeastern Conference's...
became the seventh Commodore to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team and the third during Stallings’ tenure.
In 2005-06, Vanderbilt finished 17-13 (SEC: 7-9) and lost to Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
79-69 in the first round of the NIT. Foster was named first-team All-SEC.
In 2006-07
2006-07 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team
The 2006–07 Vanderbilt Commodores men’s basketball team finished with a 22–12 record and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores were ranked No...
, Vanderbilt had a 22-12 record (SEC East: 10-6, 2nd) and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
. Following the end of the regular season, Stallings was named SEC coach of the year by his fellow SEC coaches, while senior Derrick Byars
Derrick Byars
Derrick JaVaughn Byars is an American professional basketball player for the Pro A team Cholet Basket. Collegiality, he played for Virginia, and later for Vanderbilt...
was named SEC player of the year.
In 2007-08, Vanderbilt won its first 16 games of the season en route to a 26-8 record (10-6 SEC). After going 2-4 to start conference play, the Commodores notched seven straight wins, including a victory over then-No. 1 Tennessee, the second straight season Stallings defeated a top-ranked team. Vanderbilt received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, 13th-seeded Siena routed the Commodores in the first round, 83-62. Shan Foster became the school's all-time leading scorer and was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year by the SEC's coaches and the Associated Press.
In 2008-09, Stallings had four freshmen playing significant minutes on one of the youngest rosters in the nation. In a down year for the SEC, the Commodores went 19-12 and went 8-8 in conference play, but did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament or the NIT at the season's end.
The 2009-10 season represented a bounceback for the Commodores, who rattled of 10 straight victories after a 6-3 start and went on to post a 12-4 record in SEC play, the best-ever under Stallings. This included season sweeps of Florida and Tennessee, and Vanderbilt finished second in the SEC East behind Kentucky. The Commodores again received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament but were shocked again, this time by 13th-seeded Murray State, 66-65. However, three NCAA bids in four years is Vanderbilt's best postseason run since the early 1990s. Jermaine Beal was named First Team All-SEC after leading Vanderbilt in scoring and assists, and Stallings was named SEC Coach of the Year for the second time in four seasons.
2010-11 Season: Stallings lead Vanderbilt to a 23-11 overall record, 9-7 in the SEC. This year's team was widely considered Vanderbilt's strongest to date, with Stalling's typical makeup of a strong outside shooting presence and a powerful inside post man. The high expectations were largely rooted in the additions of players described as having natural athleticism who could make thrilling and explosive plays, an element that in previous years had been regarded as a weakness of the Vanderbilt team. After an 11-2 preseason record including a win over then 8th ranked UNC, Stallings lead the team to reach a consensus AP and Coaches ranking of 18. Vanderbilt then finished conference play 1-3 and went 2-1 in the SEC Tournament and headed to the NCAA Tournament as a 5 seed. Another upset ensued as 12 seeded Richmond knocked Vanderbilt out of the tournament in the first round. In the last 3 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, despite favorable seedings, Vanderbilt went 0-3, being upset by 13 seeds (twice) and this season by a 12 seed. Highly regarded in preceding years, after being upset in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive appearance, for the first time in his Vanderbilt career, Stallings has been the subject of heavy criticism for inconsistent performances and weak season finishes.
According to a Vanderbilt tax form, Stallings made $981,406 in 2003. His salary made him one of the five highest paid non-director/board member Vanderbilt employees. In 2007, his salary was $1,339,643, which was more than what Coach Krzyzewski earned at Duke.
Head coaching record
See also
- Vanderbilt Commodores Men's BasketballVanderbilt Commodores men's basketballThe Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...
- Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...