Stacker grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Nunawading.[2] He represented the Nunawading Spectres and Melbourne Tigers in the Victorian Basketball Association as a junior, winning one Under 14 and two Under 20 state titles. He also played for Victorian state teams at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 levels.[4]
In February 2019, Stacker was appointed an assistant coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix for their inaugural season in the NBL in 2019–20.[2] He parted ways with the Phoenix in March 2020.[18]
National team career
In 1997, Stacker was head coach of the Australian Under 23 team that won a gold medal at the World Championships.[9] The gold medal was the first won by an Australian men's team in international competition, and included consecutive victories over United states (quarter final), Argentina (semi final), and the previously undefeated Puerto Rico (gold medal game).[11] In 2001, he coached Australia at the FIBA Under-21 World Championship.[19]
Stacker was set to coach Australia at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Russia,[20] but he stepped down from the role for personal reasons.[21]
Personal life
Stacker and his wife had three sons before their divorce.[22] His eldest son, Jackson, died in 2021.[23] As of September 2022, the death remained a mystery.[22]
Notes
^ abA 1992 Official NBL Basketball Card listed Stacker with birth details of 26 May 1947 in Oldham, England.[1] The legitimacy of this is brought into question due to the NBL noting him as 61 years old in February 2019.[2]
^"Ian Stacker". Crocodiles.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 August 2002. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^"Our man for all seasons". botinagy.com. 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Many will be involved in the World University Games in Russia in July, that national team being coached by none other than Stacker.