Tennessee-Martin men's basketball coach Anthony Stewart dies at 50

Tennessee-Martin men's basketball coach Anthony Stewart died Sunday, the school announced.  He was 50.

Stewart was about to begin his fifth season with the Skyhawks and spoke with media on Nov. 10 during the Ohio Valley Conference's media day.

He joined UT Martin in 2014 as associate head coach under Heath Schroyer and took over as head coach two years later.

"We are stunned to hear this tragic news," UT Martin athletic director Kurt McGuffin said in a school release. "Coach Stewart was a true leader to every one of the young men he coached. He emphasized the meaning of a college degree and instilled professionalism in each of his student-athletes. We ask for privacy during this difficult time."

In his first season in 2016-17, Stewart won 22 games, which tied a school record for most wins in a single season. The Skyhawks also won their first outright Ohio Valley Conference West division championship and reached the OVC Tournament championship game.

Following his first season, Stewart was one of the 21 finalists for the 2017 Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award, which is presented to the nation's top Division I minority head coach.

Stewart's record was 51-73.

He played both basketball and baseball at Mount Union and was a private business entrepreneur before beginning his coaching career in 2001 as an assistant at Columbus State Community College.

He was also an assistant at Long Beach State, Wyoming, Southern Illinois and Ohio University before arriving at UT Martin.

"What I will remember most about Coach Stewart was his focus in developing our young men to be leaders in their community, leaders in the workforce and leaders in their homes," UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver said. "He always stressed the development of the entire person, well beyond athletics."

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