GAINESVILLE -– Brenau University announced Wednesday that Lees-McRae College assistant Kris Stewart will become the head coach of the Golden Tigers women’s basketball team.
Stewart replaces Gary Bays, who initiated the five-year-old Tigers program before resigning at the end of the 2010-11 season. Bays led the Golden Tigers to a 13-16 record in the National Association Intercollegiate Athletics in his last campaign in charge.
“I am absolutely convinced after looking at numerous resumes and speaking with many candidates from around the country that Kris Stewart is the best person for the job,” Brenau athletics director Mike Lochstampfor said. “Kris has the personality, the passion, enthusiasm and the wide array of skills the job requires. He made a great connection with the team and our department staff. I am confident he will elevate the stature of our program in many ways.”
Although Stewart has never held a head coaching position at the collegiate level, he guided Forbush High School in North Carolina to five straight playoff appearances and a 74-42 record from 2002-07. He was also named Mountain Valley Athletic Conference coach of the year in ’02, his first season at the East Bend, N.C., school.
Stewart, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Lees-McRae, located in Banner Elk, N.C., and a Masters in Education from the University of Missouri in Columbia, has been the assistant basketball coach at the NCAA Division II Lees-McRae, as well as director of instructional technology.
“I know that Brenau is definitely the right place for me and my family,” Stewart said. “The newness of the basketball program appeals to me. The team is very young, but very talented. The program has a solid foundation and needs the right person with the right personality to continue building. I believe that my approach to teaching the game will be beneficial to helping this team grow.”
The Atlanta-area native graduated from Duluth High School in Gwinnett County. He and his wife, Holly, have two daughters.
“I think this is a great opportunity for Kris and his family,” said Craig McPhail, director of athletics at Lees-McRae College. “His passion and desire for the game burns bright. The young women of Brenau will be excited to have the chance to play for him. He has a wonderful basketball IQ and solid recruiting connections. Most important, he is a great listener and willing to work hard for the greater good. He will put his heart and soul into building Brenau women’s basketball into a great program for many years to come.”
Stewart says he is undaunted by the intense competition he will face in the NAIA’s Southern States Athletic Conference, which features a number of national championship hopefuls each season.
“The conference has a number of talented teams and experienced, veteran coaches,” Stewart said. “I’m looking forward to the competition.”
