Norm Stewart

Norm Stewart

Stewart from The Savitar, 1969
Sport(s) Basketball
Current position
Title Head coach
Record 634-333 (.656)
Biographical details
Born (1935-01-20) January 20, 1935
Shelbyville, Missouri
Playing career
1953–1956 Missouri
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961–1966 Northern Iowa
1967–1999 Missouri
Head coaching record
Overall 731-375 (.661)
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2007

Norman Eugene "Norm" Stewart (born January 20, 1935) is a retired American college basketball coach. He coached at the University of Northern Iowa (then known as State College of Iowa) from 1961 to 1967, but is best known for his career with the University of Missouri from 1967 until 1999. He retired with an overall coaching record of 731-375 in 38 seasons. The court at Mizzou Arena (and previously at the Hearnes Center) is named in his honor.

Early life

Stewart was born in Shelby County, Missouri. He grew up the son of a gas station owner around the small farming community of Shelbyville, and graduated from high school there in 1952. After high school Stewart enrolled at the University of Missouri, becoming a standout in both basketball and baseball for the Tigers. Stewart was a two-time team captain, and all-Big Seven selection in basketball. His 24.1 scoring average per-game in 1956 ranks 4th in school history and earned him a spot on the 1956 Helms Foundation All-American team. It was while at MU he met the love of his life, Virginia (Zimmerley) Stewart. Following graduation from Mizzou, Stewart was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA in 1956, playing one season at forward. He also signed a contract with Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, but never played at the big-league level.[1]

Coaching career

Following his brief career as a professional athlete, Norm Stewart returned to the University of Missouri in 1957 to earn his master's degree. He also served as an assistant basketball coach under Sparky Stalcup and an assistant baseball coach under Hi Simmons. In 1961 Stewart and his family made the move to Cedar Falls, Iowa as Norm took over as head basketball coach at the State College Of Iowa (now University of Northern Iowa). In six seasons Stewarts' Panthers compiled a record of 97 wins, 42 losses, and two conference championships.[2] On March 10, 1967, Stewart was named head basketball coach at his alma mater. In 32 seasons as Missouri head coach, Stewart had a 634–333 overall record.[1] Stewart's Missouri teams also won 8 Big Eight Conference regular-season championships, 6 Big Eight Tournament titles, 16 NCAA Tournament appearances (including two Elite Eight appearances), 5 NIT post-season tournament appearances, and 1 CCA post-season tournament appearance. Stewart also was UPI Coach of the Year (1982) and Associated Press Coach of the Year (1994).[3]

Stweart's overall coaching record is 728-374, 22nd best mark in NCAA history.[3]

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
State College of Iowa (North Central Conference[4]) (1961–1967)
1961–62 Northern Iowa 19–9 8–4 T–1st NCAA Division II Second Round
1962–63 Northern Iowa 15–8 8–4 2nd
1963–64 Northern Iowa 23–4 11–1 1st NCAA Division II Fourth Place
1964–65 Northern Iowa 16–7 8–4 2nd
1965–66 Northern Iowa 13–7 9–3 2nd
1966–67 Northern Iowa 11–11 6–6 T–2nd
Northern Iowa: 97–42 50–22
Missouri (Big Eight Conference) (1967–1996)
1967–68 Missouri 10-16 5-9 6th
1968–69 Missouri 14-11 7-7 5th
1969–70 Missouri 15-11 7-7 T-3rd
1970–71 Missouri 17-9 9-5 T-2nd
1971–72 Missouri 21-6 10-4 2nd NIT First Round
1972–73 Missouri 21-6 9-5 T-2nd NIT First Round
1973–74 Missouri 12-14 3-11 T-7th
1974–75 Missouri 18-9 9-5 3rd NCIT First Round
1975–76 Missouri 26-5 12-2 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1976–77 Missouri 21-8 9-5 3rd
1977–78 Missouri 14-16 4-10 T-6th NCAA First Round
1978–79 Missouri 13-15 8-6 T-2nd
1979–80 Missouri 25-6 11-3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1980–81 Missouri 22-10 10-4 1st NCAA First Round
1981–82 Missouri 27-4 12-2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1982–83 Missouri 26-8 12-2 1st NCAA Second Round
1983–84 Missouri 16-14 5-9 T-6th
1984–85 Missouri 18-14 7-7 T-3rd NIT First Round
1985–86 Missouri 21-14 8-6 T-3rd NCAA First Round
1986–87 Missouri 24-10 11-3 1st NCAA First Round
1987–88 Missouri 19-11 7-7 4th NCAA First Round
1988–89 Missouri 29-8 10-4 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1989–90 Missouri 26-6 12-2 1st NCAA First Round
1990–91 Missouri 20-10 8-6 4th
1991–92 Missouri 21-9 8-6 T-2nd NCAA Second Round
1992–93 Missouri 19-14 5-9 T-7th NCAA First Round
1993–94 Missouri 28-4 14-0 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1994–95 Missouri 20-9 8-6 4th NCAA Second Round
1995–96 Missouri 18-15 6-8 6th NIT Second Round
Missouri (Big 12 Conference) (1996–1999)
1996–97 Missouri 16-17 5-11 10th
1997–98 Missouri 17-15 8-8 T-5th NIT First Round
1998–99 Missouri 20-9 11-5 T-2nd NCAA First Round
Missouri: 634-333 270-179
Total: 731-375

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NCAA penalties and probation

In 1990, the NCAA placed Missouri's basketball program on probation for two years and banned the team from that season's post-season tournaments for major violations of rules regarding recruiting, benefits for athletes and irregularities in academics that occurred under Stewart from 1985 through 1989. The NCAA also imposed limits on the Tigers' recruiting practices and the number of scholarships that could be offered in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 academic years. Two of Stewart's assistant coaches, Rich Daly and Bob Sunvold, were forced to resign over the scandal, but Stewart was able to remain as Missouri's coach.[5] Stewart's legal attorney was future Missouri interim president Steve Owens.[6]

Health issues and retirement

In 1989, Stewart was diagnosed with colon cancer, missing the final 14 games of the 1988-89 season. He underwent invasive surgery and chemotherapy and was able to return to coaching the following season.[7] Stewart's assistant, Rich Daly, took over as interim coach for the rest of the season, but Missouri credits the entire season to Stewart.

The 1990s were a time of both highs and lows for Mizzou basketball, with the highlight being 1994 when the Tigers went a perfect 14-0 in conference play. For that special season, Norm Stewart was named College Coach Of The Year by the Associated Press and five other leading organizations. Following another winning 1998-99 season, the Stewart Era came to an end as he announced his retirement on April 1, 1999. At his retirement, he'd had a hand in over 60 percent of Missouri's wins.

Although retired from coaching, Stormin' Norman continues to storm through life with a busy itinerary of meetings, speaking engagements, travel, and color commentary on Mizzou basketball broadcasts. Stewart is also a member of the council of Coaches Vs. Cancer, a program he founded following his own cancer battle. After collapsing at a Dallas, Texas restaurant in May 2007, Stewart had a pacemaker installed. In late July 2008 Stewart underwent successful open-heart surgery, an aortic valve replacement, at a Columbia, Missouri hospital.

Halls Of Fame

Stewart (left) being interviewed during his induction into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.

Norm Stewart's achievements on the basketball court and baseball diamond were recognized in 1990 as he led the inaugural class of the MU Athletics Hall Of Fame. He was again given special recognition by the Hall for his coaching career in February 2008. In 2014 Stewart was inducted into the St.Louis Sports Hall of Fame. His highest honor came in November, 2007 as Stewart was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Norm Stewart". Missouri Tigers. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Norm Stewart". University of Missouri Columbia. October 21, 1996. Archived from the original on July 26, 1997. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Norm Stewart". Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ "North Central Conference men's basketball record book" (PDF). North Central Conference. 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Missouri Gets Basketball Probation". New York Times. 1990-11-09. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  6. ↑ ALAN SCHER ZAGIER/The Associated Press (2011-01-21). "Interim UM System president counts on deep Missouri ties". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  7. ↑ NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, Fantasy Sports News - CBSSports.com Live Scores, Stats, Schedules
  8. ↑
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