Perth Lynx | |
---|---|
Position | Head coach |
League | WNBL |
Personal information | |
Nationality | Australian |
Coaching career | 1996–present |
Career history | |
As coach: | |
1996–2005 | Athletes in Action Australia |
2000–2013 | Lakeside Lightning |
2009–2014 | Perth Wildcats (asst.) |
2015–present | Perth Lynx |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Andy Stewart is an Australian basketball coach who currently serves as head coach of the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).
Stewart is a product of West Australian basketball, having began his career in the mid 1990s with the Lakeside Lightning. In 1995, he took on the role of Lakeside's Director of Coaching WABL, a position he held until 2013. In 1996, he took on the head coaching role of the Athletes in Action Australia team, a position he held until 2005.
In 2000, Stewart became the inaugural head coach of the Lakeside Lightning's men's SBL team, guiding them to a grand final berth in their first season. By 2005, he helped Lakeside win their first SBL title, later guiding them to three more championships in 2006, 2009 and 2013. He also earned recognition as the league's Coach of the Year five times between 2007 and 2013. During the Lightning's 2013 semi-final series against the East Perth Eagles, Stewart coached his 400th Men's SBL game. His final game as head coach of the Lightning came in the team's 77–74 grand final win over the Wanneroo Wolves, leaving his total as 402 career games. Over those 402 games, he guided the Lightning to 289 wins, missing the playoffs in just one season (2001). He was subsequently named the Assistant Coach of the 25 Year MSBL All-Star Team.
Between 2009 and 2014, Stewart served as an assistant coach for the Perth Wildcats under Rob Beveridge and Trevor Gleeson, helping the Wildcats win NBL championships in 2009–10 and 2013–14.
In April 2015, Stewart was appointed head coach of the newly re-branded Perth Lynx for the 2015–16 WNBL season. In his first season at the helm, he guided the Lynx to a Grand Final berth for the first time since 1999. He subsequently earned WNBL Coach of the Year honours for the 2015–16 season.