University of Tennessee Athletics
Clark Announces New Assistant Coach
September 05, 2012 | Track & Field
Stoker will be in charge of assisting Coach Clark with the men's and women's distance runners in addition to recruiting responsibilities.
"My staff and I are excited and we welcome Rodney to the program," said Clark. "He brings great knowledge and experience and I look forward to utilizing all of his skills."
Stoker has served as the head coach of the men's and women's cross country programs at Bryan College - a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics institution in Dayton, Tenn. - for the past seven seasons and has been the track & field team's skipper for six years.
He was a four-time winner (2007, 2009-11) of the Appalachian Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year Award. He won the AAC Championship those four years and his teams produced nine different NAIA All-Americans and earned 61 all-conference awards during his tenure.
"I'd like to thank Dave Hart, Donna Thomas, J.J. Clark and the entire UT Track & Field staff for the opportunity to come alongside them and build on the tradition of excellence that so many Volunteer athletes have created," said Stoker. "I'm humbled that I was chosen and excited for what the future holds at The University of Tennessee."
A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Stoker won two Southern Conference titles and helped the Mocs win the South Regional in 1998 to advance to the NCAA National Championship. He received a degree in exercise science in 2000.
"It is a great fit for my family and we can't wait to get started," said Stoker. "I look forward to inspiring young men and women to compete for championships and excel in all areas of their lives"
Stoker and his wife, Kimberly, have three children, Owen Miles (10), Ian Pace (5) and Hudson Lane (1).
He will be compensated at a rate of $50,000 annually.
For more information about Tennessee cross country and track & field, visit UTSports.com and follow @Vol_Track on twitter.
