Montgomery County names Parker Stewart head basketball coach

[theguru]

From the Mt. Sterling Advocate:

[mcraycraft]

I am looking forward to what this young man brings to MoCo basketball!

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Coach Stewart just finished his first season as a head coach, leading the Jackson County Generals to a 21-10 season record. The Generals' season ended with a 38-64 loss to Clay County in the opening round of the 49th District tournament.

Stewart, who was the first runner-up in voting for the 2017 Tennessee Mr. Basketball award after his senior year at Union City High School, initially committed to playing college basketball at Ole Miss. He ended up playing his freshman year of college basketball at Pitt, and then transferred to UT-Martin the following year to play for his father, Anthony Stewart, who was the head men's coach for the Skyhawks. Parker sat out for the 2019-2020 season due to NCAA transfer rules, started for the Skyhawks in 2020-2021, and then again sat out the following season after the unexpected death of his father just before the start of the 2021-2022 basketball season. Stewart transferred to Indiana University the following season where he started as a guard with the Hoosiers, and then returned once more to play for UT-Martin as a graduate transfer. He also played one season of professional basketball with KK Tamiš in Serbia's KLS basketball league before starting as an assistant coach for player development and scouting for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.

[Herbie22]

There is no doubt Parker, had a great playing career having family from Northwest Tennessee, I have heard stories from his playing days in Union City. However, not sure this will move the needle for Montgomery County Basketball, relatively inexperienced coach taking over at a school where the previous coaches haven't spent enough time to get their mail switched over. Also, with his connections to South Laurel, I thought he might be pursuing that opening. He finished one year at Jackson County, they had a tremendous season when looking at the win/loss total. However, they scheduled the 222nd toughest schedule out of 289 teams according to Massey Ratings. His best wins this season are likely Sayre, Barbourville, Pineville or Breathitt County. The schedule that Montgomery County, has been playing for the last several seasons has been fairly tough. If most of those games have two year contracts Coach Stewart, will be spurring against some of the best talent and coaching the state has to offer. I will be interested to see this one play out and remain cautiously optimistic for the Tribe.

[brooksville]

His wife went to South Laurel and played at WKU, EKU, and UT Martin, which explains how he ended up in Kentucky.  I wonder if she will be helping out the girls' team because she is a teacher too.  I think it's a good hire for Montgomery County.  Parker Stewart was also the district athletic director at Jackson County, so I think he learned quickly about how to run a program. He also has an MBA.  He certainly has the Division I connections and knows how to develop players. 

[Run it Back]

3 hours ago, mcraycraft said:

I am looking forward to what this young man brings to MoCo basketball!

If it indeed came down to Lieberman and Stewart, would be interesting to know the final choice process.

[theguru]

Congrats Coach Stewart!

[TribeTime]

You don’t always need to “move the needle” with your hire. That’s why you see young, capable coaches never get their opportunity and walk away. 
 

Sometimes the best hire isn’t the one with 700 wins or college experience. Sometimes it’s the coach who has been preparing for their opportunity or been at a smaller school and will run with it and develop a program for many years. 

[sweet16]

3 hours ago, Herbie22 said:

There is no doubt Parker, had a great playing career having family from Northwest Tennessee, I have heard stories from his playing days in Union City. However, not sure this will move the needle for Montgomery County Basketball, relatively inexperienced coach taking over at a school where the previous coaches haven't spent enough time to get their mail switched over. Also, with his connections to South Laurel, I thought he might be pursuing that opening. He finished one year at Jackson County, they had a tremendous season when looking at the win/loss total. However, they scheduled the 222nd toughest schedule out of 289 teams according to Massey Ratings. His best wins this season are likely Sayre, Barbourville, Pineville or Breathitt County. The schedule that Montgomery County, has been playing for the last several seasons has been fairly tough. If most of those games have two year contracts Coach Stewart, will be spurring against some of the best talent and coaching the state has to offer. I will be interested to see this one play out and remain cautiously optimistic for the Tribe.

He will be coaching against better talent but will also have better talent to go against them. 

[LethalPG]

I would guess he sold his college and professional ties to the committee.  As far as coaching, it is a reach.  But with that loaded roster, you would expect a ton of success.  It will come down to clearing GRC.

[4 Quarters]

32 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

I would guess he sold his college and professional ties to the committee.  As far as coaching, it is a reach.  But with that loaded roster, you would expect a ton of success.  It will come down to clearing GRC.

GRC reloads every year, they would be a problem for any coach.

[LethalPG]

22 minutes ago, 4 Quarters said:

GRC reloads every year, they would be a problem for any coach.

For sure.  Which, imo is even more of a reason to hire a proven winner.  It’s a reach to hire someone who played Red Bird, OBI and June Buchanan.  It could definitely work out, but he didn’t get the position because of his coaching resume is all I’m saying.  Hired on playing resume and connections.  Which, could be more important in today’s game and specifically with the hurdle they have to clean in GRC.  I just didn’t think Montgomery with their current roster would take a chance on someone just cutting their teeth in actual coaching.  It’s a bold hire, so they should be commended if it works out. 

[4 Quarters]

13 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

For sure.  Which, imo is even more of a reason to hire a proven winner.  It’s a reach to hire someone who played Red Bird, OBI and June Buchanan.  It could definitely work out, but he didn’t get the position because of his coaching resume is all I’m saying.  Hired on playing resume and connections.  Which, could be more important in today’s game and specifically with the hurdle they have to clean in GRC.  I just didn’t think Montgomery with their current roster would take a chance on someone just cutting their teeth in actual coaching.  It’s a bold hire, so they should be commended if it works out. 

Totally understand where you're coming from, but you and myself, myself anyway, don't actually know whom was interviewed.  With MOCO track record, maybe coaches back away, maybe some backed away after being interviewed.

[Run it Back]

4 hours ago, LethalPG said:

For sure.  Which, imo is even more of a reason to hire a proven winner.  It’s a reach to hire someone who played Red Bird, OBI and June Buchanan.  It could definitely work out, but he didn’t get the position because of his coaching resume is all I’m saying.  Hired on playing resume and connections.  Which, could be more important in today’s game and specifically with the hurdle they have to clean in GRC.  I just didn’t think Montgomery with their current roster would take a chance on someone just cutting their teeth in actual coaching.  It’s a bold hire, so they should be commended if it works out. 

I so agree, Moco is loaded(Jarvis,Terry, Sears,Rowlett, Hatton, Routt, etc.) and ready to make a run in the State Tournament, ala GRC, with Tyce's senior year coming up. Anything less would be a disappointment, that's a lot of pressure for even a Coach with 20 years experience. Hope it works out, always like to see a young beginning Coach succeed, but if it doesn't Moco doesn't have the track record for patience, lol.

[4 Quarters]

Every school would to hand pick their next coach, it just doesn't work that way.  Colleges can't even do that and their willing to pay millions. LOL