The University of Tennessee at Martin athletics department has removed the interim tag and officially tabbed Anthony Stewart as its head men’s basketball coach, interim athletics director Kevin McMillan announced today.
Stewart, 46, had been serving on an interim basis since being promoted from associate head coach on April 21. Stewart is the 10th head men’s basketball coach in program history.
“I am proud to announce that Coach Stewart as the long-term leader of our Skyhawk men’s basketball program,” McMillan said. “Not only has he done an unbelievable job as interim head coach but he has been a vital key to our program’s success since he arrived in 2014. I am confident in Coach Stewart’s abilities and look forward to watching him develop into a successful head coach and leader of men.”
As UT Martin’s associate head coach under Heath Schroyer from 2014-16, Stewart helped lead the Skyhawks to two of the best seasons in the program’s Division-I history. UT Martin has pieced together back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1981-83, as the Skyhawks’ 41 victories are tied for the most in a two-year span in school history.
UT Martin is the only Ohio Valley Conference team to win a postseason game in each of the last two seasons. The Skyhawks’ four CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament victories in Stewart’s tenure as associate head coach are the second-highest amount of postseason wins for any OVC program in a two-year stretch.
Last season, Stewart helped UT Martin win its first-ever OVC West division championship. The Skyhawks also advanced to the OVC Tournament championship game for the first time in school history before earning a berth in the CIT, where they won their first round game.
Stewart’s first season as associate head coach at UT Martin was one of the best in school history. He helped guide the Skyhawks to 21 victories (one shy of the program record) while racking up the first three postseason wins in the school’s Division-I history. UT Martin led the nation with 12 road victories – including all three wins in the CIT.
“I am honored to be the head men’s basketball coach at UT Martin,” Stewart said. “I’d like to thank the administration – especially our Chancellor Bob Smith and my athletics director Kevin McMillan – for all of the support I have received. I am thankful for my staff and my players for standing by me – without them, this wouldn’t be possible. The West Tennessee community is a special place – myself and my family are proud to call UT Martin our home. Our staff will continue to work hard to put an entertaining product on the floor while also molding our student-athletes into valuable members of society.”
Prior to his two seasons at UT Martin, Stewart served as an assistant coach at Ohio (2012-14), Southern Illinois (2011-12), Wyoming (2007-11), Long Beach State (2004-06) and Columbus State Community College (2001-04).
A native of Akron, Ohio, Stewart graduated from the University of Mount Union with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1993. He completed his Master’s degree in business administration from Chancellor University in 2006.
Courtesy of: Hoopdirt.com