The Stony Brook men’s basketball program and head coach Geno Ford announced staff changes, promoting Dan Rickard to Associate Head Coach and Jaden Uken to assistant coach and added Jordan McKenzie to the staff as the team’s director of basketball operations.
“I’m excited to announce our staff changes,” Ford said. “Our guys on staff have really worked hard and are very deserving of these new opportunities and we are excited to see what they can do in their new roles. It’s always good to have someone get their first job in coaching where they played, so to have Jordan back is great. He really cares about our program. Everybody on our staff is really committed to Stony Brook Basketball and the tradition of our program, so we are really excited to carry that and build on it when we move to the CAA.”
An alum of the program and well-decorated member of the Seawolves, Rickard will enter year 17 with the men’s basketball team and has elevated the squad to new heights ever since his arrival. The 2016 conference champion helped lead the Seawolves offense to its fourth-most efficient year in the Division I era, per KenPom, led by a dynamic backcourt that contained a pair of all-conference guards. The squad also produced the second-lowest turnover rate in program history and was top 25 nationally in fewest fouls, fewest turnovers and turnovers per game.
With Rickard’s guidance, the Seawolves proved to be the most explosive in recent memory, scoring 80 points on 12 different occasions, going 11-1 in those contests. Stony Brook had reached that mark six times in the previous two seasons.
“I’m extremely grateful to Coach Ford and the Seawolves Athletic Department,” Rickard said. “Stony Brook is very special to me and it has provided myself and my family with many opportunities. I can’t wait to get started with our guys this summer and am looking forward to continuing to build our program as we move to a great league in the CAA!”
Serving the last three seasons as the team’s director of basketball operations, Uken will remain on Ford’s staff as an assistant coach. Uken worked with his current boss at Bradley and Kent State, helping engineer one of the nation’s best turnarounds in the 2012-13 season, winning 11 more games than the previous season. He also was a part of Ford’s first staff at Kent State, aiding the Golden Flashes to back to back Mid-American Conference regular season titles.
“I am grateful for Coach Ford and Shawn Heilbron for providing our staff the opportunity to build this program as we move now to the CAA,” Uken said. “This will be my 11th season working with Geno and I have a great understanding of how we operate and know that we will win with our system on the court combined with our emphasis of building the program with players of great character.”
McKenzie made 115 appearances over four seasons with the Seawolves, averaging 13.3 minutes per contest. He spent his final two seasons under Ford, playing a key leadership role at the point guard position. The Concord, N.C., spent last season on Cincinnati’s staff, serving as a graduate manager for the 18-win Bearcats.
“I’m excited to be coaching back at my alma mater,” McKenzie said. “I’m very grateful to begin my coaching career as a Seawolf!”
The Seawolves are coming off an 18-13 season, winning their final two games at home en route to a 13-4 slate at Island Federal Arena. Stony Brook enters a new era in the winter, joining the Colonial Athletic Association. Ford’s club will debut its season on November 7 with a trip to Gainesville, Fla., and a matchup with the Gators.
