Ostanik named new head basketball coach at UAF

Submitted by Scott Wilson
Phone: (907) 474-6807
04/30/04

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Athletics has named Frank Ostanik as the new head men’s basketball coach, effective immediately. Ostanik is the tenth men’s head basketball coach in Nanook history.

Ostanik is certainly no stranger to the UAF family. He served eight years as assistant coach to Al Sokaitis. He also played for the Nanooks from 1990-92 and was a graduate assistant for UAF during the 1992-93 season. During his time in the Blue and Gold, Ostanik received the Most Assists with Children (MAC) Award, presented by McDonald’s Restaurants to a UAF student-athlete who best demonstrates the desire to work with the Fairbanks youth community.

Known to be a strong recruiter, the well-connected Ostanik has successfully established inroads for the Nanooks in the ultra-competitive Southern California junior college scene, managing to entice a bevy of talented prospects to continue their collegiate careers at UAF. A respected and valued member of Alaska’s tight-knit basketball community as well, Ostanik assisted Sokaitis in all phases of the Nanook program, involving himself in game-planning, practice preparation, academic supervision, fund-raising, travel and the administration of the UAF Nanook Basketball Academy, a summer youth basketball camp which has become the highest attended event of its kind in the state.

As a player, the longtime Alaska resident was known for his hustle and determination and still holds the school record for steals in a game with seven, a feat he accomplished at the expense of Angelo State January 10, 1992. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education at UAF in 1993.

Following his graduation, Ostanik was named head boy’s basketball coach at Kaltag High School in Kaltag, Alaska. He revived a boys and girls program that had been dormant for several years. From there, Ostanik worked at Walter Northway High School in Northway, Alaska, where he took over a struggling Alaska State 2A program and led the Warriors to a Region II Championship game appearance and the school’s first appearance in the state semifinals in six years.

Active in the local community, the 33-year-old Ostanik helped the Fairbanks Special Olympics basketball team and the Alaska U-16 Winter Games boys’ basketball teams win titles. Ostanik has volunteered at numerous local youth clinics and continues to play an important role in Sokaitis’ impressive REACH program. Each summer, in addition to time spent out recruiting, Ostanik holds camps and clinics throughout the state of Alaska and into Canada, gaining a reputation which has made him a sought-after and often-requested guest speaker and clinician.

Ostanik and wife, Toni, have a seven-year-old son named Win.

CONTACT: Sports Information Director Scott Wilson at (907) 474-6807 or e-mail fnsaw@uaf.edu for more information.