Hall of Fame
Richard “Rick” Stansbury was recruited to play basketball at Campbellsville College by legendary coach Lou Cunningham. As a member of the Tiger Basketball from 1977 to 1981, Stansbury was both an accomplished player, as well as a respected team leader. While majoring in business and physical education, Stansbury was a four-year letterman in the Tiger backcourt. Stansbury was a key performer on the KIAC tournament championship team in 1979 and the regular season KIAC championship team in 1980. In his senior season, Stansbury’s efforts led the team to Campbellsville’s first District 32 championship and a long-awaited appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. Following graduation, Stansbury began his coaching career as a student assistant coach under Coach Cunningham where he successfully served his alma mater with the same tenacity and skill that he had exhibited as a player.
Following his coaching stint at Campbellsville College, Stansbury served as a graduate assistant at Cumberland College under NAIA Hall of Fame coach Randy Vernon, while earning his master’s degree. In 1984 Stansbury moved to Austin Peay State University where he served as an assistant under Lake Kelly. Having gained considerable coaching experience, Stansbury accepted a position at Mississippi State University as an assistant under the well-respected Richard Williams. For the past 13 season, Stansbury has coached at Mississippi State during which the Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 and Final Four during back-to-back seasons. As head coach at Mississippi State Stansbury has led the Bulldogs to post seasons tournaments play four time in five seasons to become the first MSU basketball coach in history to accomplish this feat. His 2001-02 MSU team compiled the most wins (27) in a single season in school history, and the 2002 team won the Southeastern Conference tournament championship.
Coach Stansbury, a native of Battletown, Ky., is married to Mau Mellen, and they have two sons, Issac and Noah.
