Van Stokes was selected by the United States Army to serve as the representative for the Armed Forces on the Board of Directors for USA Wrestling in 1989.

He remained in that role, with the exception of one year in 1997, until his retirement from federal service in 2014. He then served six years on the board as chairman of the Greco-Roman Sport Committee before being elected as an At-Large member, a role he continues to this day.

Stokes has served as an officer during eight different Olympic quads with four terms as treasurer and two terms as both Second Vice President and Secretary. He has also chaired or served on the following USA Wrestling committees: ad hoc bylaws review, ad hoc fee structure review, ethics and membership, executive, finance, freestyle coaches selection, governance, Greco-Roman coaches selection, Greco-Roman Sport, long range planning, and women's oversight.

After serving for two years in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, Stokes completed his master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1974.

He served as a regional coordinator and Assistant Chief of Army Sports in Europe from 1976 to 1985 and was responsible for organizing wrestling clinics, conducting championships, officiating competitions, and developing wrestling programs to serve soldiers in Europe.

Stokes became the sports director for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1985. He established the installation as the home of the All-Army wrestling team and the Armed Forces wrestling championships in 1987.

Stokes served as a Wrestling Team Leader for the Armed Forces at seven World Military Championships, held in Croatia, Finland, India, Sicily, and Turkey from 1988-2010. He served as a Team Leader for USA Wrestling at two Cera Pelado Cups in Cuba, a Pan American Games in Argentina, a World Cup in France, a World Championship in Russia, a Takhti Cup and a Habibi & Movahed Cup in Iran from 1992 to 2010. Stokes began working as a sports broadcaster in 1990 and did broadcasts for multiple Olympic-style sports on ESPN, TBS and other networks.

He served as assistant producer for wrestling at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and at the World Championships in 1995 and 2003. Stokes also served as a television announcer for the national broadcasts of the 1995 World Championships, along with numerous other USA Wrestling competitions, including the U.S. Nationals.

He is currently in his 26th year as the color commentator for football and the baseball play-by-play voice for Austin Peay State University.

Stokes has served on the Board of Directors for the Fort Campbell Historical Foundation while also being chairperson of the Clarksville Area YMCA and a member of the National Committee for Membership Standards with the YMCA of the USA.

He is a certified conflict mediator and a quality adviser who has delivered leadership training and strategic planning sessions with the Army in Europe, Korea, Japan, and various locations in the United States.

Stokes lettered three years as a running back for Marietta College in the NCAA Division III Ohio Athletic Conference from 1967 to 1969.