Local talent proved instrumental during Steve Moore's early years of building The College of Wooster's men's basketball program into a national contender on an annual basis. The arrival of Mark Stanley as a transfer played a big part in that.

Stanley originally attended technical college and took on Wooster's jayvee team while playing on a men's league all=star team. He was recruited "on the spot" by Moore after scoring 37 points.

As a sophomore, Stanley was the program's lead reserve as Wooster won its first of a North Coast Athletic Conference-leading 19 championships. The Fighting Scots had Div. III's top defense, allowing 57.1 points per game and holding the opposition to an ice-cold 38.1 field-goal percentage. He stepped into a starting role as a junior and ranked third on the team with 13.9 points per game. Stanley and fellow Wayne County teammate Erich Riebe teamed up for a formidable backcourt, as both had triple-digit assists for the year. The W Association Hall of Fame duo led one of Div. III's most efficient offenses, as the Scots shot 50.3 percent from the field as a team.

Stanley's elevated play as a senior resulted in All-NCAC honorable mention status. He averaged 13.9 points per game for the second time. Stanley was nearly automatic at the free throw line, making 46-of-50. His 92 percent make rate stood as the single-season school record until the 2006-07 season. The three-year letterwinner helped Wooster to a program-record 25 wins (25-4) and an 11-0 mark in NCAC play, making the Scots' 1990-91 team the first in conference history to go undefeated in the regular season. Wooster's year ended in the NCAA Div. III Championship, where the Scots made their first appearance since 1978.

Stanley scored 1,051 points between his time at Wooster and the University of AkronWayne College. He finished nine points shy of having a 1,000-point career at Wooster. The guard played on teams that went 64-20. His 82.9 free-throw percentage ranked fourth upon graduation, and is still a top-10 mark in the storied program's annals.

"Mark was a huge reason why we were able to elevate our basketball program to new heights during his three years as a player," said Moore. "Mark's toughness, dedication, and determination helped us achieve a NCAA tournament bid his senior year. More important, his leadership and the example he set for the younger players in our program enabled us to establish the winning culture, which led to more success."

Stanley has remained in the area since graduating with a history degree. The longtime educator is currently a history teacher with Norwayne Local Schools, where he has coached multiple sports over his 34-year career.

Stanley and his wife, Sarah, the College's Director of Marketing Operations, reside in nearby Creston, and have three children, Olivia, Elijah, and Emily.