Adam Hooker Named Head Men's Basketball Coach

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Harris-Stowe State University has announced Adam Hooker as the next Head Men's Basketball Coach. Athletics Director Dr. Nathan Cochran on the hiring of Coach Hooker, "I am very excited about Coach Hooker joining Harris-Stowe State University." Dr. Cochran further stated, "He rose to the top of their respective applicant pools. He brings program building and has experienced success on and off the court. I cannot wait to see the work Coach Hooker will do with our Harris-Stowe student-athletes."

Following a national search, the Harris-Stowe State University Athletic Department has named Coach Hooker as its next head men's basketball coach. Hooker succeeds Michael Cook, whose three-year tenure ended, this preseason.

"It is with both great humility and a great sense of pride, that I accept this incredible opportunity at Harris-Stowe," said Hooker. "I thank our Athletic Director, Dr. Cochran, our esteemed President, Dr. Collins Smith, and all members of the search committee, for the faith and trust they've shown throughout this process. It's hard to put to words how much this means to me and my family. I'm leaving my hometown, my alma mater, and much of my family behind, in Kansas City. But we, as a family, have always been willing to faithfully answer the call and we have felt a clear and collective call to join Hornet Nation! We're getting a late start and have a lot of work to do in a short time and I kind of love that challenge and chaos. I believe I'm here for a time such as this."

Hooker is a native Kansas Citian, having grown up in Olathe where he attended Olathe North High School. He stayed in northeast Kansas to play his college ball at NAIA powerhouse, MidAmerica Nazarene University. Following his playing career, Hooker joined the MNU staff as an assistant coach. Serving under his Hall-of-Fame mentor, Coach Rocky Lamar, Hooker was a part of three Fab Fours and the 2007 NAIA National Championship.

Following his impressive tenure at MidAmerica, Hooker chose to go the high school head coaching route. In those ranks, he proved an excellent program builder. With stops at four different classes, his teams found sustained success, highlighted by a conference championship and taking three teams to State Tournaments.

Hooker returned to the collegiate sidelines as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Sterling College, in 2019, guiding the program through the tumultuous COVID years. The Warriors had lost more games than the year before, five straight years. He won more games than the year before, each of his first two years, and secured the program's first postseason win in seven years as well. He coached the school's all-time leading scorer and helped multiple student-athletes to pursue professional opportunities.

Following his Sterling era, Hooker came full circle, returning to MNU as the Director of Recruitment, where he's served impactfully since 2022. He helped lead MidAmerica to three straight years of enrollment growth, including landing the largest incoming class in 17 years, this Fall. He also stayed active in the gym with stops at Maranatha Christian Academy and as the 17U Select coach, at Livin' the Dream.

"The past three years have been a time of healing and personal growth." Hooker said. "It's been a time of reflection and refocus. I have never felt more ready for an opportunity such as this, at HSSU. I'm healthier than I've been in a long time and my belief in myself, and this program, is extremely high. I really do feel this is an ideal fit and I hope this is my final stop in my long coaching journey. I want to retire a Hornet and leave a legacy behind here in St. Louis!"

Hooker is married to his wife Chrystal, a former MNU college basketball player, herself. Together they have four children, Sara Grace, Luke, Katie and Euella. The family will join Hooker, this summer, after the school year ends.