Dave Stafford recalled for his love of basketball, playing and coaching (updated)
Dave Stafford, who impacted generations of local basketball players, has died; he was 69.
Stafford was Reading High’s leading scorer as a senior in 1969-70 and went on to coach at Wilson, Kutztown University and Steel-High.
He was a three-year starter for Jut Missbach at Reading High and was named to the All-Central Penn first team as a senior year.
“Dave had a lot of expertise in basketball,” said former Wilson coach Reggie Weiss. “He knew the game, he played the game, he loved the game.”
Stafford was inducted into the Berks County Basketball Hall of Fame Wednesday; he previously had been inducted as a member of the Monarch basketball team, which was named a Team of Distinction in the Berks Rec Leagues.
Stafford preceded Weiss as head coach at Wilson, coaching the Bulldogs for two seasons, from 1983-85.
He returned to the school as an assistant coach for Weiss from 1991-94, when his son Shane was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer. Stafford was on staff when Wilson won back-to-back Berks Conference titles in 1993 and 1994.
Stafford was popular with his players, and left a lasting impression on many of them. When former Wilson standout Chris Finch was hired to coach the Minnesota Timberwolves he mentioned Stafford’s influence on his game.
“He was a fundamentals guy,” Weiss said, “but he liked to have fun with the (players). He’d take them anywhere to play (in the summer).”
“When you played for Coach Stafford you never could forget him,” said Kevin Quimby, who played at Wilson and is now an assistant coach there. “He made you work as hard as possible and tried to get the best out of your ability.
“He wanted you to give 110 percent, and if you did he gave gave you credit it for it and made you feel special for it because he wasn’t just preparing you for a basketball game, he was preparing you for life.
“He was an excellent offensive minded coach. Many of his drills and sets are still used today. His shooting lectures where very educational and very impactful.”
Stafford left Wilson to join long-time friend Rick Binder’s staff at Kutztown University, when Binder was named Golden Bears head coach in 1984.
Stafford later followed Binder to Steel-High, and was an assistant coach there. They won five District 3 titles and two PIAA Class AAA championships.
Stafford taught elementary physical education in the Wilson school district for 30 years.
After graduating Reading High, Stafford played at Northeastern Nebraska Junior College (now Northeast Community College) for two seasons and transferred to Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney). He was a two-year letter winner for the Lopers.
After college Stafford was an outstanding rec league player in Berks County for many years. His teams won numerous league championships in the Antietam, Pike, and West Reading Summer Leagues.
He was the MVP of the West Reading League in 1973 and 1978.
In 2018 he was inducted into the Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame as a member of the Monarchs, who played in several leagues in the Reading area from 1963-1982, winning 14 titles.
A celebration of life ceremony is planned for later this year at Bean Funeral Homes, Sinking Spring.
The family is asking that contributions in Stafford’s memory be made to the Paul Worcheck Memorial Fund: 401 Harvard Boulevard, West Lawn, Pa., 19609.