Less than a month after he told a group of UT boosters that it felt good to wear “the right colors,” University of Toledo assistant men's basketball coach Anthony Stacey resigned this week.
Stacey, a former star at Bowling Green State University who still holds the BGSU record for points and steals, cited “personal reasons” for his resignation. Stacey stayed at UT for only five months. UT hired Stacey to be part of coach Tod Kowalczyk's staff in June.
“At this time, I can’t fully commit myself to the program the way I need to due to personal reasons,” Stacey said in a release. “I’m going to miss the players I got to know during my time on the staff, and I wish the team nothing but the best.”
Stacey played at BGSU from 1995-2000 and was the Mid-American Conference player of the year in 2000. His 1,938 points and 241 steals remain a school record.
After college, Stacey played from 2001-10 in Spain, then became the boys basketball coach at Medina High School, where he coached for three seasons. Stacey turned around a losing program and posted a 41-33 record in three years.
Sandusky High School hired Stacey in April, though he quickly departed the position after UT had an opening on its staff. Stacey took the vacant position left by Jordan Mincy, who accepted an assistant job at Louisiana Tech after one season with UT.
Stacey had no college coaching experience before taking the Rockets' job.
Nick Dials, who was a graduate assistant video coordinator, will take Stacey's spot on the Rockets' staff. Dials previously was an assistant coach for two years at Rogers State University, a Division II school in Claremore, Okla.
Dials played college basketball at Akron, where he transferred after committing to Ohio State initially.
Four assistants have left UT since the end of the 2013-14 season. Since the beginning of 2012-13, UT has lost six assistant coaches.
“While I’m disappointed to see Anthony leave our program, I want to wish him well in his future endeavors,” Kowalczyk said.
Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at: npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 724-6110, or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz
First Published November 16, 2014, 5:50 p.m.
