Stanford Nance

Stan Nance came to Emerson College in 2003 with a wealth of experience in collegiate coaching and administration. Initially hired as an assistant athletic director, Stan was promoted to Sr. Associate Director of Athletics in 2014 after serving two years as the Interim Athletic Director.

Stan has been the recruiting coordinator for the Department of Athletics since his arrival at Emerson. During that time, the Lions have had 4 teams advance to NCAA Division III Championship Tournament play, and 10 different teams have won or played in conference championship games. Emerson has produced 16 conference rookies of the year and 14 conference players of the year during Stan’s tenure.

In addition to his recruiting duties, Stan has worn a variety of hats for the department. He has been the community service coordinator, extending the department’s outreach throughout Greater Boston. Stan has coordinated transportation for Emerson’s 14 varsity teams, been involved in compliance monitoring, worked with the Writing and Academic Resource Center to identify and monitor academically at-risk student-athletes, and has been a student employment coordinator. Stan has been the Athletics liaison for Undergraduate Admission, Facilities, Information Technology, Financial Aid, Public Safety, and Institutional Advancement. He has also been the contact for Emerson’s fellow athletic consortium members Berklee College of Music and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Stan arrived at Emerson as plans were being finalized for the renovation of Rotch Field, and his input was invaluable in the design and construction of that facility. Only a concept when he arrived, the Piano Row Campus Center and Residence Hall took shape and life. He was intimately involved in the planning and equipment selection for the Brown-Plofker Gym and equipment storage, athletic training, and locker room areas.  

Emerson recognized Stan’s contributions to the College by awarding him its Distinguished Service Award in 2009. In presenting the award, College president Jackie Liebergott cited Stan as a “positive role model for students, coaches, and administrators” and for his “enthusiasm, energy, and diligence…keen sense as to the value of outreach to others and how to be a part of the community…the perfect combination of charismatic personality and gifted communicator…the ultimate ‘GET IT DONE’ person…he is a winner and he can and will deliver.”

Prior to Emerson, Stan worked for his alma mater, Rutgers University, where he had been the director of operations for the Scarlet Knights’ Division I basketball program. Before returning to Rutgers, he had been an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator of men’s basketball at Northeastern University, under former Eastern College Athletic Conference Commissioner and former Emerson Director of Athletics Rudy Keeling. Stan held a similar position at the University of Hartford for eight years, where he was associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. He has also coached at BC, VCU, Miami, and Old Dominion.

During his college career, Stan’s Rutgers team played in the NCAA Final Four. He was co-captain of the Scarlet Knights, and won both the Paul Robeson Scholar-Athlete Award and the Rutgers Basketball Scholar Athlete Award.

Stan is a long-time member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and has been active as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. He also has worked with Minority Opportunities in Athletic Administration. Stan helped raise more than $16,000 for the Coaches for Cancer fundraiser; and in recent summers, he has traveled to Africa to teach the game of basketball to coaches through the Youth Education through Sport (YES) program.

Stan resides in Stoughton, Massachusetts, with his wife Alethea. Their son Darnell played four years of soccer while earning his bachelor’s degree at Dartmouth College.