Zebras hire Sequoyah's Stewart

May 09, 2008 10:46 am

— TERRELL LESTER
Sports Editor

Tim Stewart was hired on Thursday to fill the vacant position of boys basketball coach at Claremore High School.
The Claremore School Board approved Superintendent Mike McLaren’s recommendation to employ the 36-year-old Stewart.
Stewart is a 13-year coaching veteran who spent one year as head coach at Sequoyah.
He will succeed Lance Bennett who was relieved of his duties in March after seven seasons as head coach.
A screening process handled by Claremore High School Principal Todd Steidley and Athletics Director Randy Pearson pared a list of applicants for the position to some 14 of 15, according to McLaren.
From that list, McLaren made the selection of Stewart following a lengthy interview.
“I think he communicates a message,” McLaren said. “He wants to focus on our younger players; try to capture the younger interest. He will put in the time.
“He will bring an excitement and an enthusiasm that we’re looking forward to working with.”
Stewart has lived in Claremore since he took the Sequoyah coaching job last spring. His mother, Margo Stewart, and his sister, Shari Beguin, own and operate The Pink House, a Claremore landmark tearoom.
“To me, that shows people that I have a vested interest in this town,” Tim Stewart said after receiving approval of the school board. “Our family is here. We want to be a part of this community.”
For Stewart, Claremore will be his sixth coaching position, his fourth as head coach.
A graduate of Bixby High School and Northeastern State, Stewart spent his first two years as an assistant coach to Joe Babinski at Catoosa.
His first head-coaching job was at Jay, where he remained for five years. He moved to Stilwell for three years, then served as an assistant coach at Siloam Springs, Ark., for two years. He was at Sequoyah last season, posting a 4-18 regular-season record.
Steidley said that Stewart’s passion for education and ability to work with young people were strong selling points to the school board and to the administration.
“Right off, when we started visiting, was that coach Stewart felt that one of the important things as a coach is to build relationships with his players,” said Steidley, a former state championship wrestling coach.
“I truly believe in that. If you have strong relationships with your players, they’re going to play hard for you, and work hard for you.
“I think that’s an important element in being successful,” Steidley said.
“Coach Stewart has a good vision and knows what he wants to do.”
Stewart said that leaving Sequoyah after one season “was a tough decision.”
“It was a great job. We hadn’t thought about leaving. We were happy where we were.
“But on the other hand, when a good opportunity comes in the professional world, you have to do it.”