Hall of Fame
JERRY RICKRODE, Wilkes
Men’s Basketball Coach - 1992-2014
Jerry Rickrode retired with one of the best winning percentages (.667) as he led the Colenels to a 382-191 record during his career. He also holds the Division III record for being the fastest coach to reach 200 wins, he accomplished this in 249 total games.
Rickrode led the Colonels to 17 MAC and MAC Freedom playoff appearances and five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. These trips to the NCAA Tournament included four Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights, and one Final Four appearance.
During his time at Wilkes, Rickrode coached 38 All-Conference performers, 11 All-ECAC players, six MAC Freedom Rookies of the Year, and Dave Jannuzzi who was MAC Freedom Player of the Year three times and was Jostens Division III National Player of the Year in 2001.
Rickrode was honored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as their Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year after the 2000-01, 1998-99, 1997-98 and 1995-96 seasons. Previously, he was named the Freedom Coach of the Year on three occasions, including 2000-01.
Rickrode was named to the Wilkes Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.