Norm Stewart
Encyclopedia
Norman E. "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.
, 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
. Stewart also had a solid career on the mound, helping pitch Mizzou to the 1954 NCAA Championship. 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.
in 1957 to earn his master's degree. He also served as an assistant football 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. March 10, 1967 is a date that will long bring joy to the hearts of Mizzou Tiger fans, for it was on that day Norm Stewart was named head basketball coach at his alma mater. Below are some of the highlights of his 32-year tenure as the "Top Tiger":
Another interesting note on Stewart and the Missouri Tigers is how he treated their rivalry with border state rival, the Kansas Jayhawks. During away games in which the Tigers played against a Kansas team, Coach Stewart would refuse to have his team lodge, dine, or fill their gas tanks because of the taxes that would support the rival school.
Stewart's intensity on the sidelines earned him the nickname "Stormin' Norman."
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.
His highest honor came in November, 2007 as Stewart was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach. He coached at the University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
(then known as State College of Iowa) from 1961 to 1967, but is best known for his career with the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
from 1967 until 1999. He retired with an overall coaching record of 731-375 in 38 seasons. The court at Mizzou Arena
Mizzou Arena
Mizzou Arena is an indoor arena on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, USA. The facility, home to the school's men's and women's basketball teams, opened in November 2004 and replaced the Hearnes Center as the school's main indoor sports facility. The arched-roof...
(and previously at the Hearnes Center
Hearnes Center
Hearnes Center is a 13,611-seat multi-purpose arena in Columbia, Missouri. The arena opened in 1972. It is currently home to the Tigers' nationally ranked wrestling and volleyball teams as well as the school's gymnastics and indoor track & field teams...
) 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 MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, 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
1956 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1956 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of six major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, Look Magazine, The United Press International, the...
. Stewart also had a solid career on the mound, helping pitch Mizzou to the 1954 NCAA Championship. 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
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
of the NBA in 1956
1956 NBA Draft
The 1956 NBA Draft was the 10th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 30, 1956 before the 1956–57 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players...
, playing one season at forward. He also signed a contract with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, but never played at the big-league level.
Coaching career
Following his brief career as a professional athlete, Norm Stewart returned to the University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1957 to earn his master's degree. He also served as an assistant football coach under Sparky Stalcup
Wilbur Stalcup
Wibur "Sparky" Stalcup was basketball coach for the Northwest Missouri Bearcats men's basketball and Missouri Tigers men's basketball teams...
and an assistant baseball coach under Hi Simmons
Hi Simmons
John "Hi" Simmons was the head baseball coach at the University of Missouri from 1937 until 1973. During his tenure, Missouri won one national championship, finished runner-up three other times, appeared in six College World Series and won 11 conference titles...
. In 1961 Stewart and his family made the move to Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
as Norm took over as head basketball coach at the State College Of Iowa (now University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
). In six seasons Stewarts' Panthers compiled a record of 97 wins, 42 losses, and two conference championships. March 10, 1967 is a date that will long bring joy to the hearts of Mizzou Tiger fans, for it was on that day Norm Stewart was named head basketball coach at his alma mater. Below are some of the highlights of his 32-year tenure as the "Top Tiger":
- 8 Big Eight ConferenceBig Eight ConferenceThe Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
regular-season championships. - 6 Big Eight Conference post-season tournament titles.
- 16 NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Tournament appearances, including two elite eights. - 5 NITNational Invitation TournamentThe National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
post-season tournament appearances. - 1 CCA post-season tournament appearance.
- 1982 UPI National Coach Of The Year and 1994 Associated Press Coach of the Year
- Won 634 games at Missouri--far and away the most in school history, and more than MU had won in its entire 60-year basketball history prior to Stewart's arrival.
- Lifetime record of 728-374 (22nd best mark in NCAA historyNCAA men's basketball coaches win listThis is a list of NCAA men's basketball coaches by number of career wins across all three divisions. This list includes games won at the NAIA level, but omits coaches who have won only NAIA games. Harry Statham is the all-time leader in men's college wins, having won 1,043 NAIA...
) - Seventeen seasons with 20 wins or more.
- Coached 9 All-American players and 21 First-Team All-Conference players
Another interesting note on Stewart and the Missouri Tigers is how he treated their rivalry with border state rival, the Kansas Jayhawks. During away games in which the Tigers played against a Kansas team, Coach Stewart would refuse to have his team lodge, dine, or fill their gas tanks because of the taxes that would support the rival school.
Stewart's intensity on the sidelines earned him the nickname "Stormin' Norman."
Head coaching record
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.Health issues & retirement
In 1989, Stewart was diagnosed with colon cancer, missing the final 14 games of the 1989-90 season. He underwent invasive surgery and chemotherapy and was able to return to coaching the following season. 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
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
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
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
hospital.
Halls Of Fame
Norm Stewart's achievements on the basketball court and baseball diamond were recognized in 1990 as he led he 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.His highest honor came in November, 2007 as Stewart was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is a hall of fame and museum dedicated to college basketball. The museum is an integral portion of the College Basketball Experience created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches , located at the Sprint...
.