The University of Mobile Athletic Department is pleased to announce that Erika Stuckman has been named the head coach of women’s basketball. Stuckman has served as interim head coach since the beginning of the 2018-19 season and prior to that time was the assistant coach under former head coach Billy Evans.
Coach Stuckman is a life-long lover of the game, playing collegiately at Tuskegee University. Even during her playing days, Stuckman knew her path was leading to the coaches’ bench. “I’ve always wanted to coach” said the coach. “I loved playing, and still do, but working with players and guiding them through the ups and downs of a season is such a blessing to be a part of and I’m thankful to work with some amazing student-athletes.”
Coach Stuckman has had quite a few “amazing student-athletes” in her time at Mobile. She’s coached an All-American, Starla Daggan (who holds more conference records than any Ram from any sport and was the 2016-17 conference player of the year) as well as 6 All-Conference players. As an assistant, Stuckman helped coach the Rams to an SSAC Championship in 2017, followed by an appearance at the NAIA National Tournament in Billings. Montana. Last season, as interim head coach, Stuckman led the Rams to a winning record in conference play, an improvement of 5 games from the prior year.
This is her first collegiate coaching position but it is not her first time to lead a team or to work in collegiate athletics. After playing at Tuskegee, Stuckman transferred to Florida A&M University to complete her BA in Public Relations. While at FAMU, the Gainesville, Florida native worked in the Sports Information Office. In 2014, she returned to basketball by accepting a coaching position with the Florida Suns, an elite travel ball team competing regionally and nationally. After some success with the Suns, Stuckman joined the staff of Florida’s Team Impact Basketball Association. Team Impact is known nationally to have produced great talent and it was a crucial stop in Stuckman’s coaching journey.
In 2016, Stuckman saw an opportunity she couldn’t resist when head coach Billy Evans offered her the position of Assistant Basketball Coach at the University of Mobile.
“Learning about the UM basketball program, I was excited to hear about the standard they upheld” said the coach. “It was an incredible opportunity to coach in a place where it matters if you win and it matters how you win. I’m a competitor but I also believe in doing things the right way and for the right reasons so UM felt like a great fit.”
Stuckman will begin her 2nd season at the helm of the Lady Rams this fall. Schedules and rosters will be announced in August.
http://www.umobilerams.com/article/womens-basketball/erika-stuckman-named-head-coach
Tagged with: NAIA
