STEWART TO RECEIVE LOCAL AWARD
Former Missouri coach Norm Stewart will be honored with the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award during the 2016 College Basketball Awards in Oklahoma City on April 11.
Former University of Missouri basketball coach Norm Stewart will be honored with the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award during the 2016 College Basketball Awards in Oklahoma City on April 11.
As a head coach at Northern Iowa and then at Missouri, Stewart won 731 games, which ranks him 16th on the all-time college coaching list. He won eight Big 12/Big Eight Conference championships and took the Tigers to 16 NCAA Tournaments.
Following his retirement in 1999 as MU’s head basketball coach of 32 years, Stewart served as the Special Consultant to the Chancellor at Mizzou. Stewart was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and was inducted on November 18, 2007. He was also nominated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1998, Stewart was selected as the Missouri Citizen of the Year. He is also a Missouri Squire — one of 100 Missouri Leaders. In 1994, he was honored at the White House where President Bill Clinton presented Stewart with the American Cancer Society Courage Award.
Stewart’s battle with colon cancer inspired him to create a unique fundraising program at Missouri. Teaming up with Jerry Quick of the American Cancer Society, they started the “3 Point Attack” project. It was so successful Stewart took the program to the National Association of Basketball Coaches where it was adopted and remains the major charity for that organization under a name perhaps more familiar — Coaches vs. Cancer. Today, more than 500 Division I, II, and III college coaches are involved in the program that has raised more than $100 million dollars in the fight against cancer.
“Through the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award, we have been very fortunate to honor some of the great humanitarians in college basketball such as Coach K, Dick Vitale, Jim Boeheim, Tom Izzo, and Bill Self,” said Jenny Love Meyer, vice president of communications for Love’s, the presenting sponsor for the Tisdale Humanitarian Award.
“As an Oklahoma company, Love’s is proud to be part of an event and an award that honors an individual like Norm Stewart who has had such a profound impact on so many lives.”
The College Basketball Awards, held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, includes the presentation of the Oscar Robertson Trophy for the men’s national player of the year, the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award, the Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award, the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award, and — for the first time this year — the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award presented to the top player in women’s college basketball.
The Men’s Freshman Player of the Year, Men’s Player of the Year, Women’s Player of the Year, as well as the Coach of the Year, are selected by members of the United States Basketball Writers Association.
Oklahoma-based Access Sports serves as the host for the Oklahoma City gala and selects the Humanitarian honoree. Funds raised through the gala are used to support youth basketball programs in Oklahoma that allow disadvantaged youth the opportunity to participate in basketball leagues and training as well as other charitable endeavors.
Information about the event, sponsorships and tickets are available by contacting Scott Hill at (405) 640-0406.