Marlon Stewart
Stewart accepts assistant coaching position at Hawai`i
7/10/2017 3:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HONLOULU, Hawai`i – After three seasons in Missoula, assistant basketball coach Marlon Stewart has accepted a similar role with the University of Hawai`i. The Rainbow Warriors made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.
"Marlon's been here since Day 1," Montana head basketball coach Travis DeCuire said. "He and I go back a long way. For me, one of Marlon's strongest assets was his understanding of me and what I was trying to accomplish – with the program and with each individual in the program. He helped us come in and set the tone and get started with what we're trying to accomplish here in the future."
Considered to be an up-and-coming young coach, Stewart rose from director of operations to an assistant coach during his three-year tenure at Montana. He was part of UM's steady success under DeCuire, helping UM to a pair of 20-win seasons. The Griz won the Big Sky regular-season championship in 2015, made two appearances in the conference tournament championship game and twice advanced to postseason play.
Stewart played a key role on the Grizzlies' defensive side of the ball, in addition to overseeing recruiting, compliance, scouting and video analysis. As director of basketball operations, Stewart was responsible for the programs' travel, summer camps, video technology and community service. He also helped administer UM's stifling defense on the court – a defense that led the Big Sky in rebounding percentage and produced the league's second-best three-point field goal defense during the 2015-16 season. A year prior, during UM's regular-season conference championship season, the Grizzlies ranked No. 1 in defensive efficiency (KenPom), No. 1 in opponent effective field-goal percentage, opponent three-point percentage and opponent turnover percentage.
Success has followed Stewart wherever he has been. In addition to the pair of titles he helped win at Montana, his teams have reached the NCAA tournament at every other stop.
Prior to coming to Missoula, Stewart spent two seasons on Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers staff as technology and scouting assistant. Virginia won 53 games, an ACC title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. From 2008-12, he served as video coordinator at the University of California. This is where he was connected to DeCuire – who was an assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach and former UM head man Mike Montgomery. Together, the Bears advanced to three NCAA tournaments and won the Golden Bears' first Pac-10 title in 50 years. From 2003-08, Stewart held various student responsibilities for Washington State, with the Cougars reaching the NCAA tournament twice.
DeCuire feels as though this next step for Stewart is also a strong one.
"It's not often that a coach is able to progress on his own terms," DeCuire said. "Marlon has been able to do that throughout his career. Each job has been different, and I think that this one is a strong stress move for Marlon. I think that his recruiting style fits Hawai`i's program well and he has a knowledge and understanding of the type of defensive system that they're looking to use."
Hawai`i is coached by Eran Ganot, who will begin his third season in Honolulu this fall. During his debut season in 2015-16, Ganot led the Rainbow Warriors to a school-record 28 wins, the Big West regular-season and tournament titles and an upset victory over California in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Hawai`i graduated eight players following that season but managed a 14-16 record in 2016-17, despite being picked to finish second-to-last in the preseason poll.
There is also plenty of optimism in Missoula. Just two years removed from a regular-season championship and one year removed from a Big Sky tournament title, the Grizzlies return three starters from last year's quad that went 16-16. UM also welcomes five freshmen and three transfers who will all be eligible to play.
"We'll look to fill Marlon's spot, but right now, it's more important that we bring in the right fit and put people in the right roles," DeCuire said.
"Marlon's been here since Day 1," Montana head basketball coach Travis DeCuire said. "He and I go back a long way. For me, one of Marlon's strongest assets was his understanding of me and what I was trying to accomplish – with the program and with each individual in the program. He helped us come in and set the tone and get started with what we're trying to accomplish here in the future."
Considered to be an up-and-coming young coach, Stewart rose from director of operations to an assistant coach during his three-year tenure at Montana. He was part of UM's steady success under DeCuire, helping UM to a pair of 20-win seasons. The Griz won the Big Sky regular-season championship in 2015, made two appearances in the conference tournament championship game and twice advanced to postseason play.
Stewart played a key role on the Grizzlies' defensive side of the ball, in addition to overseeing recruiting, compliance, scouting and video analysis. As director of basketball operations, Stewart was responsible for the programs' travel, summer camps, video technology and community service. He also helped administer UM's stifling defense on the court – a defense that led the Big Sky in rebounding percentage and produced the league's second-best three-point field goal defense during the 2015-16 season. A year prior, during UM's regular-season conference championship season, the Grizzlies ranked No. 1 in defensive efficiency (KenPom), No. 1 in opponent effective field-goal percentage, opponent three-point percentage and opponent turnover percentage.
Success has followed Stewart wherever he has been. In addition to the pair of titles he helped win at Montana, his teams have reached the NCAA tournament at every other stop.
Prior to coming to Missoula, Stewart spent two seasons on Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers staff as technology and scouting assistant. Virginia won 53 games, an ACC title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. From 2008-12, he served as video coordinator at the University of California. This is where he was connected to DeCuire – who was an assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach and former UM head man Mike Montgomery. Together, the Bears advanced to three NCAA tournaments and won the Golden Bears' first Pac-10 title in 50 years. From 2003-08, Stewart held various student responsibilities for Washington State, with the Cougars reaching the NCAA tournament twice.
DeCuire feels as though this next step for Stewart is also a strong one.
"It's not often that a coach is able to progress on his own terms," DeCuire said. "Marlon has been able to do that throughout his career. Each job has been different, and I think that this one is a strong stress move for Marlon. I think that his recruiting style fits Hawai`i's program well and he has a knowledge and understanding of the type of defensive system that they're looking to use."
Hawai`i is coached by Eran Ganot, who will begin his third season in Honolulu this fall. During his debut season in 2015-16, Ganot led the Rainbow Warriors to a school-record 28 wins, the Big West regular-season and tournament titles and an upset victory over California in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Hawai`i graduated eight players following that season but managed a 14-16 record in 2016-17, despite being picked to finish second-to-last in the preseason poll.
There is also plenty of optimism in Missoula. Just two years removed from a regular-season championship and one year removed from a Big Sky tournament title, the Grizzlies return three starters from last year's quad that went 16-16. UM also welcomes five freshmen and three transfers who will all be eligible to play.
"We'll look to fill Marlon's spot, but right now, it's more important that we bring in the right fit and put people in the right roles," DeCuire said.
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