Posted: Jun 13, 2011
ST. DAVIDS, Pa. -- Eastern University Director of Athletics Brad Fields today announced that Nathan Stewart will join the Eastern University Athletics staff as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach and Assistant Director of Athletic Development.
Stewart comes to Eastern from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where he served as an assistant coach for the Division I Retrievers for five years. Stewart assumes the leadership of a program that is scheduled to return all the bulk of its talent from last season.
“After an intense and thorough search process," Fields related, "I am excited to announce Nathan Stewart as our next men's basketball coach at Eastern University. Our singular goal was to identity the absolute best candidate to positively impact the men's basketball program, as well as our entire department. We accomplished that goal with the hiring of Nate. He came highly recommended from some outstanding basketball minds, and throughout the interview process, it became clear to search committee that Nate was the person God had for us to lead Eastern men's basketball to new heights."
Stewart played collegiately at Division III Roanoke and graduated with a Health and Human Performance degree in May of 2003. As a senior, the 6-7 center led the Maroons in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and went on to finish the season ranked second in the ODAC in that category. The Christiansburg, VA native was part of two NCAA Tournament Appearances and an ODAC Championship in 2000 for the Maroons.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Marshall. From Marshall, Stewart moved to Radford before taking a position with UMBC in 2006. While at UMBC, Stewart was part of a staff that led the Retrievers to an America East title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008.
“Nathan will produce winners on and off the court for Eastern,” said Page Moir. “I have watched him grow from an outstanding athlete here at Roanoke into a well-rounded, successful coach. He is the total package and will develop a program that all Eagles fans and students will be proud of.”
While his role as Head Basketball Coach will be his most visible responsibility, Stewart will also take on significant responsibility as a point person for many of the department's development projects. Fields believed that Stewart has the ability and attitude to help the entire department to reach new levels.
"I would like to thank Brad Fields, Bettie Ann Brigham and the entire search committee," Stewart said, "for placing their trust in me to lead the Men's Basketball Program at Eastern University. I am excited and grateful for this wonderful opportunity; I am looking forward to working with, and getting to know the current players at Eastern University. I want the players in our program to grow each and every day academically, athletically and spiritually. We want to compete for the Freedom Conference Championship on a yearly basis. Our goal is to win championships!"
Stewart and his wife Lauren will transition to the area shortly, and Stewart will take over leadership of Eastern's Summer Camps. He becomes the fifth Head Men's Basketball Coach in the Division III history of the program. He replaces Matt Nadelhoffer, who led the program to double-figure wins in each of his nine seasons at the helm before departing in April to accept the head coaching position at Millikin University.
Stewart comes to Eastern from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where he served as an assistant coach for the Division I Retrievers for five years. Stewart assumes the leadership of a program that is scheduled to return all the bulk of its talent from last season.
“After an intense and thorough search process," Fields related, "I am excited to announce Nathan Stewart as our next men's basketball coach at Eastern University. Our singular goal was to identity the absolute best candidate to positively impact the men's basketball program, as well as our entire department. We accomplished that goal with the hiring of Nate. He came highly recommended from some outstanding basketball minds, and throughout the interview process, it became clear to search committee that Nate was the person God had for us to lead Eastern men's basketball to new heights."
Stewart played collegiately at Division III Roanoke and graduated with a Health and Human Performance degree in May of 2003. As a senior, the 6-7 center led the Maroons in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and went on to finish the season ranked second in the ODAC in that category. The Christiansburg, VA native was part of two NCAA Tournament Appearances and an ODAC Championship in 2000 for the Maroons.His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Marshall. From Marshall, Stewart moved to Radford before taking a position with UMBC in 2006. While at UMBC, Stewart was part of a staff that led the Retrievers to an America East title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008.
“Nathan will produce winners on and off the court for Eastern,” said Page Moir. “I have watched him grow from an outstanding athlete here at Roanoke into a well-rounded, successful coach. He is the total package and will develop a program that all Eagles fans and students will be proud of.”
While his role as Head Basketball Coach will be his most visible responsibility, Stewart will also take on significant responsibility as a point person for many of the department's development projects. Fields believed that Stewart has the ability and attitude to help the entire department to reach new levels.
"I would like to thank Brad Fields, Bettie Ann Brigham and the entire search committee," Stewart said, "for placing their trust in me to lead the Men's Basketball Program at Eastern University. I am excited and grateful for this wonderful opportunity; I am looking forward to working with, and getting to know the current players at Eastern University. I want the players in our program to grow each and every day academically, athletically and spiritually. We want to compete for the Freedom Conference Championship on a yearly basis. Our goal is to win championships!"
Stewart and his wife Lauren will transition to the area shortly, and Stewart will take over leadership of Eastern's Summer Camps. He becomes the fifth Head Men's Basketball Coach in the Division III history of the program. He replaces Matt Nadelhoffer, who led the program to double-figure wins in each of his nine seasons at the helm before departing in April to accept the head coaching position at Millikin University.
