Anchorage Daily News

There wasn't much mystery to Rick Stafford when he was on the basketball court.

He played to win.

Neither the opponent nor what was on the line mattered. He treated each matchup like a Game 7 -- even if it was an exhibition.

Stafford's passion for perfection and his all-around talent made him one of the most productive players in UAA men's basketball history.

But hustle and grit is what set him apart during his UAA career from 1995 to 1997.

Thirteen years ago, he squared off against the Team Alaska AAU squad during a 1995 exhibition. Although the game didn't count, Stafford attacked his opponents like a pit bull, aggressively looking to score, diving for loose balls and clapping his hands in frustration after missing a steal.

Moments like that made Stafford special.

Toss in a 39-17 career record, conference player-of-the-year honors and consecutive postseason appearances and it's easy to see why the 6-foot-4 Stafford is the newest member of the Seawolf Hall of Fame.

UAA athletic director Steve Cobb announced Wednesday that Stafford would be the lone 2008 inductee for the hall, which started in 2001.

"He is a terrific addition," Cobb said. "Rick Stafford excelled not only athletically and academically, he showed a competitive fire that left an impression on both teammates and opponents."

Stafford -- now coaching professional basketball in Germany -- will not participate in the traditional induction ceremony until another year when his schedule allows him to return to Anchorage. Still, his plaque will be enshrined in a display case on campus immediately, Cobb said.

The native of Auburn, Wash., Stafford averaged 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for his career as a point guard. He still ranks No. 3 all-time in career assists per game.

Of the top 15 assist leaders, Stafford is the only one to also rank in the top 20 in scoring (12th) and rebounding (12th) per game.

Current UAA head coach Rusty Osborne recruited Stafford from the junior-college ranks, hoping he could fill a void at point guard.

Stafford did that and more.

"The year we recruited Rick we had lost everybody from the year before," Osborne said Wednesday. "He became an even better player than we thought we were getting because when he got to our place he not only could still pass, he became a scorer and rebounder also."

Stafford collected one of three triple-doubles in school history (15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) against Aquinas in 1996. Of his 13 career double-doubles, none was as dramatic as his last -- a 31-point, 11-rebound effort at UAF's sold-out Patty Center as UAA clinched the 1997 Pac West Conference title.

"Rick was a competitor. He hit some big shots for us," Osborne said. "He could do it all. And he was our best competitor and our toughest kid."

In addition to being a stud on the court Stafford was also proficient in the classroom, becoming the first Seawolf basketball player to earn Academic All-America honors with a 3.71 overall GPA.

The English major/German minor graduated cum laude from UAA in 1997.

After college, he went onto play professional basketball in Germany, including seven seasons in the nation's top league.

He recently became head coach with EnBW Ludwigsberg.

Stafford lives in Hirschaid, Germany with his wife Maren and their five children -- Ricky (9), Danja (7), twins Radi and Eli (5), and Abe (1).

Find assistant sports editor Van Williams online at adn.com/contact/vwilliams or call 257-4335.

Seawolf Hall of Fame

2008

Rick Stafford, men's basketball, 1995-97

2007

Rob Conn, hockey, 1988-91 Elena (Tkacheva) Lowery, gymnastics, 1994-97

2006

Allegra (Stoetzel) Butler, women's basketball, 1992-96 Derek Donald, hockey, 1988-92 Harry Larrabee, basketball coach/administrator/athletic director, 1979-86 & 1991-2000

2005

Jason Kaiser, men's basketball, 1993-95 Pete McEnaney, hockey, 1984-88 Ron Petro, athletic director, 1984-92 Ken Ralph, swimming, 1988-90

2004

Cheryl Bishop, women's basketball, 1982-87 Tiina (Kantola) Hoffman, skiing and cross country, 1982-92 Paul Krake, hockey, 1988-92 Jack Peterson, faculty athletic representative, 1975-97

2003

Dr. Jay Caldwell, team physician, 1979-04 Wendy Sturgis, women's basketball, 1988-92 Chuck Homan, hockey booster, 1977-present Jennie (Szczerbinski) Krupp, volleyball, 1988-92 Dean Larson, hockey, 1988-92

2002

Brush Christiansen, hockey coach, 1979-96 Jesse Jackson, men's basketball, 1985-87 Britta Kjellstrand, women's skiing and cross country, 1978-82 Jon Pauole, swimming, 1989-92 Mike Peluso, hockey, 1985-89

2001

Tom Besh, ski coach, 1977-90 Teri Frankie-Lavallee, gymnastics, 1985-90 Hansi Gnad, men's basketball, 1983-87 Robin Graul, women's basketball, 1985-89 Dr. Lee Piccard, administrator, 1976-94 Dennis Sorenson, hockey, 1980-84 Tracy Zink, volleyball, 1987-90

ADVERTISEMENT