BGSU Legend Anthony Stacey Returns To Falcons As Assistant Coach
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University head men's basketball coach Todd Simon announced the addition of Anthony Stacey to the Falcons' coaching staff. Stacey will return to the Falcons for his second stint as an assistant coach following five years as the head coach at Whitmer High School. He previously served as an assistant with Bowling Green for five seasons under Michael Huger from 2015-2020. Stacey, a 2011 BGSU Hall of Fame inductee, still ranks second all-time for career points in the Orange and Brown with 1,938.
"I could not be more excited to add Anthony Stacey to our staff," said Coach Simon. "Since arriving in Bowling Green, he has been an excellent resource and friend. We've admired his coaching acumen while recruiting at Whitmer and have found that his coaching philosophies are a match for what we do here. His passion for the game and mentoring young men through basketball is admirable. Coach Stacey embodies everything that is great about our Falcon Family and his hiring builds on the momentum of our program into the future."
For the last five years, Stacey has been serving as the head coach for Whitmer High School in Toledo, leading the resurgence of the Panthers' program. After a 1-6 season during his first year at the helm in 2020-21, Stacey orchestrated an incredible turnaround, going 20-5 in his second campaign at Whitmer in 2021-22. The momentum continued for Stacey and the Panthers, accumulating a 79-31 record over his five seasons with Whitmer. Stacey's tenure with the Panthers was highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 2023-24 and a Regional Semifinal appearance in 2024-25.
While leading the Panthers, Stacey mentored multiple student-athletes that went on to Division-I programs, including incoming BGSU freshman guard Makhi Leach. Under Stacey, Leach earned All-Ohio honors in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. Leach was joined in the backcourt under Stacey by Antione West Jr. who ranked No. 76 in the ESPN Top 100 for the 2025 recruiting class. The 2024 Toledo Blade Player of the Year, West is currently a freshman guard at Purdue.
"I'm beyond excited to return home to my alma mater and join Coach Simon and the BGSU Falcons staff," said Stacey. "I love BG and the direction of the program. While it was extremely difficult to say goodbye to my Whitmer players, this is the only opportunity I would have ever left for, and I'm proud to be a Falcon again."
During his first stint with the Falcons, Stacey aided in the development of two key Falcons in the history of the program. Stacey was instrumental in the development of forward Demajeo Wiggins, who finished his career with back-to-back Second Team All-MAC selections. Wiggins finished his career with 1,316 points and 1,066 rebounds, becoming just the third player in school history, joining legends Nate Thurmond and Cornelius Cash, to register 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
In addition to Wiggins, Stacey played a key role in Justin Turner's recruitment as well as his historic BGSU career. Under Stacey's tutelage, Turner broke two of Stacey's scoring records, scoring 492 points as a freshman and 2,077 career points in the Orange and Brown. Both marks surpassed records previously held by Stacey in the record books with Stacey still ranked second behind Turner in both..
As a Falcon himself, Stacey produced a Hall of Fame career for Bowling Green. His 1,938 career points held the record for most points by a Falcon for more than two decades. He still holds the record for career steals with 226 and ranks 10th for career rebounds with 760. As for accolades, his career was highlighted by two All-District selections, being named the 2000 MAC Player of the Year as well as the 1996 MAC Freshman of the Year. At the conclusion of his career, Stacey was one of 13 Falcons all-time to be named to the All-Anderson Team.
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