John Stark is now in his second year as VMI's Assistant Athletic Communications Director. His duties will include serving as the main contact for men's soccer, lacrosse, wrestling and women’s water polo. He will also act as the secondary contact for baseball and track and field.
In the spring of 2013, Stark was given the Coach Bartlett Program Appreciation Award from the Institute's men's lacrosse program. During the same season, Stark also developed a method for live stats during women's water polo matches through the use of Google Docs.
Prior to his arrival in Lexington, Stark worked at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del., working closely with both men’s and women’s soccer teams, as well as the nationally recognized women’s basketball team, which competed in the 2010-11 Women’s National Invitation Tournament. He also helped cover the women’s lacrosse program, in addition to secondary duties with the nationally ranked football team, which reached the Football Championship Subdivision title game during Stark’s first year at UD.
Stark graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. in May, 2008 with a degree in German and a minor in history. During his time as a student at Lycoming, he was a four-year member of the men's lacrosse team, playing for now-VMI head coach Brian Anken.
He came to Delaware after serving as the Sports Information Director at his alma mater for 16 months. While in that capacity, he was the main contact for the College's 17 varsity sports, including a nationally-ranked wrestling program, as well as a perennial NCAA Division III powerhouse football program. He also served as the contact for men's and women's lacrosse, softball, swimming and men's and women's tennis and cross country.
Following his graduation, he served as an intern in the Sports Information department at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., working closely with the College's 19 varsity sports, specifically as the main contact for the men's and women's soccer teams.
He broke into the business during his freshman year at Lycoming, keeping defensive hand stats during home football games and picking up hours in the office. In his junior year, the College was without a sports information director for a month. Stark, along with two other students, stepped in during the transition. In his senior year, he was the top student assistant, working as the contact for men's and women's soccer.
Hailing from beautiful Lewisburg, Pa., Stark currently resides in Lexington, Va.
