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Norm Stewart was the head men’s basketball
coach at Mizzou for 32 seasons (1967-99), compiling a record
of 634-333. Photo by Rob Hill
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Legendary
Court Moves to Arena
The current floor name will move from
the Hearnes Center to the new arena next season.
The University of Missouri-Columbia announced
March 7 that Norm Stewart Court will move from the Hearnes Center
to the new basketball arena. Mizzou men’s and women’s
basketball will begin play in the new arena next season. The $75
million project is currently under construction south of the Hearnes
Center. The arena will be complete on October 1, 2004. The announcement
was made by Chancellor Richard Wallace at halftime during Mizzou’s
game versus the Kansas Jayhawks.
“The University of Missouri is pleased
to continue its tradition of honoring coaches,” Wallace
commented. “Norm Stewart Court will forever memorialize
the outstanding career of Coach Stewart just as other such legends
have been honored, including Don Faurot, John “Hi”
Simmons and Dan Devine. When Bill and Nancy Laurie asked us to
move the Norm Stewart Court to the new arena, I thought that it
was just a darned good idea.”
The new Mizzou basketball arena is the largest
construction project in University of Missouri history. Funding
for the $75 million project was made possible by a $25 million
donation from the Laurie family of Columbia, $35 million in general
appropriations bonds approved by the State of Missouri and $15
million in funds raised by the Department of Athletics. The project
continues to progress on time and within budget.
Stewart was the head men’s basketball
coach at Mizzou for 32 seasons (1967-99), compiling a record of
634-333. During his tenure, 16 Mizzou teams advanced to NCAA Tournament
play, while winning eight regular season Big 8 championships and
six Big 8 tournament championships. He coached nine All-Americans
and 27 first-team All-Conference selections. Stewart was also
an All-American player in his own right at Mizzou from 1954-56.
The native of Shelbyville, Mo., ended his paying career second
on the all-time leading scorer list and currently remains among
the top-30 scorers of all-time at the school. His jersey number
22 is one of six men’s basketball numbers retired at the
University of Missouri.
In 38 coaching seasons (32 at Mizzou; six
at Northern Iowa), Stewart amassed a 731-375 record. He still
remains one of college basketball’s all-time winningest
coaches. Upon his retirement from coaching in 1999, Stewart had
played or coached in more than half of the men’s basketball
games ever contested at Mizzou.
In honor of his lifetime achievements, the
playing court at the Hearnes Center was named Norm Stewart Court
on January 29, 2001. The ceremony occurred at halftime of Missouri’s
75-66 win over the Kansas Jayhawks.
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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