Sept. 24, 2002
NORFOLK, VA. - Old Dominion University head basketball coach Blaine Taylorannounced the hiring of Rob Wilkes, a former assistant coach at Florida State and GeorgiaSouthern today.
"We are very pleased with the results of a very thorough process producing theaddition of Rob Wilkes, " Said Taylor. "Rob has had basketball in his blood from birth. He hashad a variety of experiences at a relatively young age and is poised to blend in and contributeto our efforts."
Wilkes, 32 served as an assistant at Florida State from 2000-02, and Georgia Southern from 1999-00. While at Georgia Southern, Wilkes signed Florida's high school Class 6A players of the year two straight years. As an assistant at Florida State, he signed several top prospects, including a McDonald's All-American. Florida State's 2001 recruiting class ranked in the top 25 by both SuperPrep and HoopScoop Magazines.
Prior to his stint at Georgia Southern, Wilkes helped successfully build one of the topcollegiate programs in the nation at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL. He teammed withhead coach Jeff Price to start the program from scratch and build it into a perennial Division IInational powerhouse. During his six season's (1993-99) as an assistant coach there, the Lynn University Fighting Knights compiled a 136-42 record for a .764 winning percentage. Lynnadvanced to national post season play all six years of its existence, three NAIA and three NCAADivision II tournaments. In 1997, the team advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity coach Taylor has given me to helpbuild the program at ODU," said Wilkes. "There is a lot of potential here to build on, and I amready to get started."
Wilkes comes from a very athletically oriented family. In addition to the outstandingsuccess of his father, Glenn, the longtime coach at Stetson University, a brother Glenn, Jr., is the women's coach at Rollins College. Another brother, Scott was a two-year letterman at Florida State from 1981-83. Wilkes was a four-year member of the Stetson University basketballteam and currently ranks fifth all-time in school history in assists.
Wilkes graduated from Stetson in 1993 with a degree in sports administration andearned a Master's degree in international business administration from Lynn in 1995.