The University of Nevada women's basketball head coach Jane Albirght announced Tuesday that she has promoted Ron Stewart to the title of associate head coach. Stewart has served for two seasons as an assistant coach to Albright since 2007 when she took over the program as head coach.
"I am very honored to have Ron Stewart on my staff," Albright said. "He is a quality person, has a wealth of basketball experience, and has a great mind for the game. With that being said, it was a no brainer to make him my associate head coach. I am excited to reward him with this position and I know that he will continue to be an integral part of our program."
"I am both honored and humbled by Coach Albright's decision to name me as her associate head coach," Stewart said. "Jane Albright's character and caring might be unmatched in this profession, and my family and I are proud and thankful to be given this opportunity. I am energized with the confidence that Jane Albright and Cary Groth have shown in me."
In the last two seasons, the Wolf Pack has had a WAC Defensive Player of the Year, two All-WAC first-team selections, a WAC Newcomer of the Year, an All-WAC second-team honoree and a regional finalist for the NCAA Division I State Farm All-America Team. Nevada also picked up its first win over a ranked team when it defeated No. 7 Louisville 85-82 to win the John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic Championship in Reno in 2008.
Nevada has twice tied the school record for WAC wins in a season finishing with 10-6 records both of the last two years. In the 2009-10 season, the Pack earned a program-best three seed for the WAC Tournament and earned the automatic bid for the WNIT, just the school's second-ever postseason appearance.
In addition to tying the school record for conference wins in a season in 2009-10, Nevada also set records for points in a season with 2,086 points passing the 1999-00 team's mark of 2,050. Nevada also set a program record for free throws made in a season with 483 passing the 1999-00 team that recorded 482.
"Jane and I work well together in preparation and during games," Stewart said. "We have an appreciation for each other's experiences in the college game. Moving to Reno has been 100 percent positive for me and for my family, and we are excited about being a part of the future of the Nevada women's basketball program."
Before coming to Nevada in 2007, Stewart spent the 11 seasons as the head women's basketball coach at Western Michigan University. During his tenure with the Broncos, Stewart compiled a 159-169 overall record (.485) and a 101-77 mark in MAC play (.567). He coached 19 players to All-MAC honors, five honorable mention Kodak All-Americans and two MAC Players of the Year.
At Western Michigan University, his teams made three WNIT appearances, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2004, and one NCAA Tournament Appearance. In addition, his team won the 2003 MAC Tournament.
Prior to his time at Western Michigan, Stewart served as an assistant men's coach at the University of Florida from 1990-96 where the 1994 team advanced to the NCAA Final Four. In addition, Stewart served as an assistant men's coach at Kansas State University from 1986-90 where the Wildcats participated in the NCAA Tournament every season from 1986-90 including an Elite Eight appearance in 1986.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Stewart assisted with practices and training camp at the 1995 USA Basketball World University Games, was an assistant coach and travel coordinator with Florida's foreign tour of Australia in 1993 and served as the head coach of the Superior Professional Basketball League from 1988-1989.
Stewart graduated from Indiana University in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in education and received his master's degree in education from Butler University in 1977.
