UT Martin officially named Anthony Stewart its head coach on Thursday.
UT Martin men's basketball coach Anthony Stewart has signed a four-year contract with a base salary of $150K per year.
— Jeff Bidwell (@AKAJeffBidwell) November 4, 2016
He had been serving in that role on an interim basis since April, when former head coach Heath Schroyer joined Mark Gottfried’s staff at NC State as an assistant.
Schroyer led the Skyhawks to consecutive 20+ win seasons in his two years with the program. UT Martin appeared in the CIT both years, winning four games across both trips.
Stewart served as associate head coach during this time. Per a release posted by the school:
“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.”
Stewart has also served as an assistant at Ohio, Southern Illinois, Wyoming and Long Beach State.
The Skyhawks were picked to finish fourth in the OVC West Division in the league’s preseason poll. They lose three key players in departed seniors Twymond Howard, Alex Anderson and Myles Taylor, but return a solid duo in current seniors Kedar Edwards (8.2 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game) and Jacolby Mobley (10.8 ppg, 1.6 assists per game).