Joe Stark

Joe Stark was a member of the Blue Devils Men’s Basketball team from 1963- 1965; setting a national NJCAA scoring record of 117.4 points per game in regular season play; a record that still stands today. They ended the season with a final record of 28 wins and 3 losses; a feat that can be attributed to Joe’s averaging over 21 points per game. He was integral to the team defeating Wright of Chicago and Canton to win the Illinois State Basketball Championship (NJCAA Region 4) and their advancing to the National Finals at Hutchinson, Kansas where they placed 8th in the nation. Joe was the leading rebounder for both years that he played and was a leader in assists and was selected to the Southern Illinois College Conference All-Star First Team and received All-State Honors in 1963-1964.

Joe was also selected for the NJCAA All-State Team in 1965 and he set a new scoring record at the National Early Season Basketball Tournament held in Garden City, Kansas; garnering the Most Valuable Player award. Joe went on to Panhandle State University in Oklahoma and continued his basketball career while earning an Industrial Engineering degree and after graduating worked in that field with companies like McDonald-Douglas receiving numerous certificates of proficiency; continually striving to make a difference utilizing his strong work ethic, team spirit and attention to detail. In 2010, Joe Stark was inducted into the Illinois State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.