Norm Stewart (1995) - Hall of Fame

Norm Stewart

Induction:
1995

"Stormin" Norm Stewart was the head men's basketball coach at then State College of Iowa from 1961-67. During that time span, his programs not only won with great style, but with consistency. His overall record with the Panthers was an impressive 97-42.

His first squad brought home a North Central Conference co-championship after posting a 19-5 record. The 1963-64 season started off with a bang, with his squad racing to a 10-0 record and winning 13 of its first 14 games. That team finished with a 20-2 regular season record, en route to a NCC championship. Stewart led that squad through the regionals to a fourth-place finish at the national tournament. At the time of Stewart's induction in 1995, the 1963-64 team held five school records, including tied for most wins a in a season (23), consecutive win streak in a season (10) and best conference record (9-1, NCC).

Stewart coached 10 first team all-conference selections while at SCI, including two league Most Valuable Players. Two of those cagers won Little All-America honors, including first team selection Pete Spoden. Stewart was not only a great coach, but was an excellent two-sport athlete at the University of Missouri. He graduated from Missouri after setting nearly every scoring record in the Tiger books, pitching them to a national baseball title as a sophomore. He signed to play baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as to play basketball with the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association.

He then coached at his alma mater, Missouri from 1967-99. Stewart finished his career with an overall coaching record of 731-375. In 1994 Stewart received national "Coach of the Year" honors by six organizations, including the Associated Press and United Press International. Despite his great accomplishments on the court, he may have received his best accolades off the court, creating the "Three Point Attack...Norm's Special Challenge" for the American Cancer Society. Because of his efforts, he was honored at the White House by former President Bill Clinton, who presented him with the American Cancer Society's "Courage Award."