Former WVU Basketball Captain Dies at 97

The WVU basketball family lost one of its oldest living members recently. Bob Stakem, a former captain of the West Virginia men’s basketball team, died on Sunday at the age of 97.

Born in Cumberland, MD on November 6, 1925, Stakem continued his basketball career at West Virginia University after graduating from LaSalle High School in 1943. He was part of the Sigma Chi fraternity at WVU.

Sad news, Bob Stakem, a member of the 1945 NIT team and one of the oldest living ⁦@WVUhoops⁩ alums, passed away at age 97 last Sunday. His granddaughter Katie works on ⁦@WVUIzzoBrown⁩’s staff. Thoughts and prayers to his family. https://t.co/5zGRfhxnUq

— John Antonik (@JohnAntonik) June 20, 2023

Stakem led the Mountaineers to an NIT appearance in 1945, competing at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Prior to college, Staken won the Rapplier Award, which honors an outstanding a student athlete for both athletic and scholastic achievements.

He was eventually inducted into the Western Maryland Catholic School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Stakem’s granddaughter currently serves on WVU women’s soccer head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown’s staff.