After a thorough search to fill the position of Head Coach of Cumberland County College Dukes Men’s Basketball, Athletic Director Keith Gorman has tabbed Darrin Stalling as the man to take over the Dukes program.
Stalling, 52, takes over a program poised to make a run in the upcoming 2018-2019 season with much of the roster from the previous season returning. Stalling makes his way to the Vineland campus after a very successful run as lead recruiter and Associate Women’s Head Basketball Coach at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ. Prior to his arrival at Stockton, the program did not surpass 15 wins in recent years. Stalling joined the staff in 2012 and had an immediate impact as the Ospreys qualified for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament in his first year. That season would kickstart one of the most successful eras in Stockton Women’s Basketball history that included six straight NJAC Tournament appearances and a Finals appearance in 2014. In the 5 seasons prior to Stalling joining the staff, the Ospreys earned a .507 winning percentage. During Stalling’s tenure, which spanned 6 seasons, Stockton enjoyed a 103-59 record that included the impressive NJAC success and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2015, 2016) in which they would advance to the Second Round in both appearances.
Stalling’s recruiting efforts would be the foundation of the recent era of success at Stockton. Stalling was able to recruit a high-powered trio to the Galloway campus that would lead the Ospreys to NCAA and NJAC success. Lead guard, Lea Mendolla, was an All-Conference performer for the Ospreys as she finished her career 5th all-time in steals and scored over 1,000 points at Stockton. Mendolla is also the all-time leader in 3-points made and attempted at Stockton. Included in the trio was forward Nahja Treadwell. Treadwell garnered multiple postseason accolades at the conclusion of the 2017-2018 season. Treadwell was First Team All-NJAC, Second Team All-ECAC, and Third Team D3Hoops.com All-Mid Atlantic as she reached the 1,000 rebound plateau while leading the NJAC in field goal percentage (62.7) which also placed her 4th in the NCAA. That number also places Treadwell as the all-time leader in field goal percentage at Stockton. To complete the “Stalling Trio” was forward Sasha Williams. Williams finished her decorated career by receiving multiple accolades including All-American Honorable Mention D3Hoops.com, All-American Honorable Mention Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, First Team All-NJAC, First Team All-ECAC, First Team D3Hoops.com All-Mid Atlantic, NJAC Defensive Player of the Year (her 4th time receiving the award), and Al Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey College Basketball Player of the Year. Williams finished her career as the school’s 4th all-time scorer (1,442) and its all-time leader in rebounds with 1,185. Additionally, Williams ended her career as just the third player in NCAA Division 3 history to reach 500 blocks in a career. She recently signed to play professionally overseas in Spain.
Stalling’s recruiting abilities as well as his long-standing history in the Mid-Atlantic region will serve the program well as he enters this exciting era of Dukes Basketball. Stalling has been coaching in the South Jersey area since 1990 when he joined the Men’s basketball staff at Paulsboro High School. For the next two decades, he would win a Group 1 State Championship at Paulsboro prior to moving to the Women’s Basketball staffs at Delsea High School and Williamstown High School, where he would win a Tri-County Division Championship before landing at Stockton in 2012.
Cumberland County College Athletic Director, Keith Gorman, expressed his excitement with the addition of Darrin Stalling by saying: “The Department and College are extremely excited to welcome Darrin to our Family. He is well-known throughout the Mid-Atlantic Basketball community and has all the qualities needed to usher our Men’s Basketball Program to new heights. We are excited for Darrin, but most especially, we are excited for our student-athletes as they will be led by a man with high standards and the ability to lead them on and off the court. This is an exciting time to be a part of Cumberland County College Men’s Basketball.”
Stalling takes over a Men’s program a year after its most successful season in program history. The Dukes earned a 23-7 record and reached the Region XIX Championship Game. The 23 wins is the most games won by a Dukes Men’s Basketball team in school history.
Stalling also serves on the Executive Board of the Al Carino Women’s Basketball Club. He currently lives in Franklinville, NJ with his wife Nicola and has three children, Anthony, Denise, and Layla. Stalling also has three grandsons.
http://dukesathletics.com/general/2018-19/releases/20180715wofok5
