Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Former Men’s Basketball Coach Bill Stokes passes away
4/27/2018 3:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Spent seven seasons in Murfreesboro, three as head coach
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Blue Raider family lost one of its own on Wednesday when former Head Men's Basketball Coach Bill Stokes passed away after a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Stokes, 89, spent three seasons leading the Blue Raiders from 1962-65 after four years as an assistant coach under his predecessor, Ed Diddle Jr. He hired former Blue Raider basketball player Ken Trickey as an assistant before Trickey took over the head job following the 1964-65 season.
He went on to join Miami-Dade College in 1966 as Athletic Director and eventually rose to the role of President at Wolfson Campus, Kendall Campus and North Campus.
"I remember Coach Stokes as not only an outstanding basketball coach, but an even better person," former Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach Jimmy Earle said. "The Blue Raiders have lost a great friend."
An Earlington, Ky., native, Stokes graduated from Western Kentucky University before joining the U.S. Marine Corps and becoming a Lieutenant. He went on to earn his M.A. and Ed.D. at the George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.
Stokes passed away in his longtime home of Miami and is survived by his wife of 46 years, Roberta Boyce Stokes; children Deborah (Sid Merchant), and James Norman; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and brothers Jim (Carlon) and Steve Blais, and numerous nephews and nieces. His son, William Frank Stokes, passed in 2016.
Stokes, 89, spent three seasons leading the Blue Raiders from 1962-65 after four years as an assistant coach under his predecessor, Ed Diddle Jr. He hired former Blue Raider basketball player Ken Trickey as an assistant before Trickey took over the head job following the 1964-65 season.
He went on to join Miami-Dade College in 1966 as Athletic Director and eventually rose to the role of President at Wolfson Campus, Kendall Campus and North Campus.
"I remember Coach Stokes as not only an outstanding basketball coach, but an even better person," former Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach Jimmy Earle said. "The Blue Raiders have lost a great friend."
An Earlington, Ky., native, Stokes graduated from Western Kentucky University before joining the U.S. Marine Corps and becoming a Lieutenant. He went on to earn his M.A. and Ed.D. at the George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.
Stokes passed away in his longtime home of Miami and is survived by his wife of 46 years, Roberta Boyce Stokes; children Deborah (Sid Merchant), and James Norman; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and brothers Jim (Carlon) and Steve Blais, and numerous nephews and nieces. His son, William Frank Stokes, passed in 2016.
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