Norse Basketball Coach

Tom Stackpool

“Our family approach to the game of basketball makes the game fun and develops our players to their fullest potential." - Tom Stackpool Norse Coach

In the fall of 1990, Mesabi men's basketball coach Tom Stackpool was hired and made an immediate impact on the Mesabi basketball team.  Each year he put a competitive team on the floor that represented Mesabi with class and character.  He brought all the tools to be successful in the Minnesota Community College Conference – leadership, character and coaching ability.  His teams were known for competing for forty minutes.  That competitive spirit has led to Stackpool becoming the winningest coach in Mesabi history passing William Wirtanen’s 204 victories.  Stackpool finished the 2006-07 season with 211 wins. 

During his 17 years as a head coach at Mesabi Range College, his teams have qualified for the Minnesota Community College Basketball State Tournament 13 times, won 2 Division Championships, and advanced to the NJCAA Region 13 national tournament twice.  In 2004, the Norse won the MCCC State Championship for only the second time in school history.   His 2002 and 2004 teams advanced to the NJCAA Region 13 tournament.  The 2001-02 team tied a school record with 23 wins and advanced to the NJCAA Region 13 tournament for the only the second time in school history.  Stackpool is the only coach in Norse basketball history to advance two teams the NJCAA Region 13 tournament. 

In addition to his team success, he has coached thirteen MCCC All-State performers and two NJCAA All-Americans, (Tuwan Clayton – 1992; Angelo “Scooby” Griffin – 2003) and he has molded over forty Mesabi players who transferred to play at various division at four-year institutions.  Stackpool’s system of play – up tempo transition offense and pressure, man-to-man defense, provides for an exciting, fast-paced brand of basketball.  “To be successful, a program needs to be committed to a style of play.  We believe strongly in pressure defense and taking care of the ball on offense.  Without those two ingredients, it’s pretty hard to be successful at any level.”  Two former Norsemen, Angelo “Scooby” Griffin and William Maupins have competed at the next level after their four year career was over.  Griffin played in South America in 2005 and Maupins was the 17th pick in the 2007 CBA draft and is currently playing for the Great Falls, Montana CBA team.

Stackpool knows what it takes to be successful.  He is the son of Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Jack Stackpool.  Growing up in Glenwood, Minnesota he was an All-Conference performer in four sports, earning All-State honors in football as a quarterback in 1977, as well as being named that year’s Outstanding Athlete in Central Minnesota.  He went on to play basketball at the University of Minnesota – Morris, graduating in 1982 with degrees in Social Sciences and Physical Education.  After a four-year tenure as a teacher and coach at Perham High School, Stackpool became an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota.  In his three years at UND, he assisted two of the all-time winningest coaches in Division II basketball history Dave Gunther and Rich Glas.  The 1990 Fighting Sioux basketball team finished 28-7, won the North Central Conference Championship and finished 3rd at the NCAA Division II national tournament.  “I was very fortunate to work with two great coaches early in my career.  They were both great influences and I credit them with molding much of what I do today as a coach.”  During his time at UND, Stackpool also earned a Master’s degree in Physical Education.
       
In 1990, Stackpool came to Mesabi and it has proven to be a great fit.  “I was looking for a coaching position that would allow me the opportunity to be successful and compete each year for a conference championship.  It was also very important to me to find a community environment that would be a great place to raise a family.  I found both at Mesabi and I haven’t looked back.”  Stackpool has three children, Caitlin, Cavan, & Cade, Tom Stackpool has made Mesabi Range College his home and insured the future of Norse basketball is bright.

 The numbers behind Coach Tom Stackpool

1       MCCC State Championship:  2004
1       Division Runners-up (1994)
1       NJCAA Region 13 Appearances (2002 & 2004)
1       NJCAA Division I All American (Tuwan Clayton, 1992)
1       NJCAA Division III All American (Angelo “Scooby” Griffin, 2003)
2      Division Titles (1992 & 1993)
8      NJCAA All Region 13 Players
13    MCCC All State Players
12    Post Season MCCC State Tournament Appearances (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
17    Years at Mesabi
22    MCCC Northern All Division Players
40    Alumni who continued their careers