Mizzou Basketball: Best head coaches of all-time for Missouri

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BEST HEAD COACHES OF ALL-TIME FOR MU – NUMBER 1: NORM STEWART

Mizzou Basketball Head Coach from 1967-1999

Without a doubt, the best head coach in Missouri basketball history is Norm Stewart, who coached the program for 32 years. Stewart played for the Tigers from 1953-1956 and got his first coaching gig at State College of Iowa. He later landed his dream job at his alma mater in 1967.

During Stewart’s tenure at Mizzou, the Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament 16 times, won eight regular season conference championships, and won six conference championships. The one feat Stewart was never able to reach, however, was that coveted Final Four appearance, which Mizzou has still yet to reach.

Norm Stewart got the Tigers to the Elite Eight twice in 32 years (once in 1976 and again in 1994) and to the Sweet Sixteen three times (1980, 1982, and1989). His squad was always a threat to make it into the tournament, but they never could get past the Elite Eight.

That 1994 season where Mizzou went to the Elite Eight saw them go 14-0 in conference play. The Tigers went 28-4 that season, but it wasn’t meant to be as far as a Final Four appearance and National Championship were concerned.

Stewart announced his retirement in April 1999 and is still the best head coach that has ever been in charge of Mizzou hoops. His final record as head coach of the Missouri Tigers was 634-333 during the regular season (731-375 overall) with a win percentage of .656.

Stewart was the cream of the crop for MU hoops and the program has been looking to get back to those glory days ever since. In 2007, Stewart was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and Missouri recently unveiled a statue of Norm Stewart in front of their arena.

When it comes to coaching the Missouri basketball program, candidates know they have big shoes to fill with Norm Stewart. It’ll be a long time before anyone comes close to doing what he did for the University of Missouri…. unless someone can win a National Championship, that is.