Legendary Basketball Coach Kirk Stewart Dies At 70

By  //  October 24, 2012

Taught Game To Thousands Of Children

BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – One of the most well-liked and revered basketball coaches on the Space Coast has passed away.

Legendary Brevard basketball coach Kirk Stewart stated his career as a standout player for High Point College in North Carolina. (Image courtesy of High Point College)

Kirk Stewart, a legendary boys’ basketball coach at Titusville and Astronaut High Schools who also served as coach at Brevard Community College, died Monday at the age of 70 of multiple myeloma in North Carolina.

Stewart graduated from Northwood High School in Silver Spring. Md. and played a year of college basketball for Furman University before transferring to High Point College in North  Carolina for the 1962 season.

In three seasons there, he became a prolific scorer and all-around player and set the school’s all-time record of 51 points in a game that still stands to this day.

Stewart also played college baseball at High Point and met his wife, Kay, while attending classes there.

After graduation, Stewart obtained a Master’s Degree from East Carolina University and then served as a graduate assistant and assistant coach for East Carolina’s basketball team.

Moving to Florida, Stewart took the job as athletic director at Titusville High School where he also led the school’s basketball program as boys’ coach. He oversaw the school’s addition of girls’ sports teams following the Title IX decision in 1972.

As Terriers’ coach, Stewart guided Titusville to state playoff appearances in 1975 and 1977.

He spent eight successful years at Titusville High before taking the job as men’s basketball coach for the Brevard Community College Titans. He led BCC to four conference titles (1979, ’80, ’81, ’83) and a back-to-back state championships (’79, ’80) from 1978-1985.

In 1983, he gave up the BCC post to serve as an assistant coach for the United Arab Emirates men’s basketball team.

Starting in 1986, Stewart returned to coaching high school basketball at Astronaut High in Titusville until his retirement in 2004. His War Eagles teams reached the state tournament in 1987, 1996 and in 2000.

In all, Stewart won 370 games as a high school coach.

He continued to teach basketball through this summer, when he led his “Tomorrow’s Stars” youth basketball camp in Titusville. Over the years, he taught the game to thousands of children and also served as a referee.

He is survived by his wife Kay, two daughters, Cheryl and Wendy, and three grandchildren.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville.

5 Comments

  1. God’s blessings on you all as you “weather this storm of life.
    You are being UPlifted in my prayers.
    Love you always
    Cathy

  2. Thanks for those wonderful memories, Kirk. You were one of my all-time great collegiate players, my valued and trusted Assistant Coach at East Carolina University and in Dubai, U.A.E. . You were a great coach and teacher, and a true leader of men at every level. As a family man and a man of true faith, you were without peers.

    Your struggle with myeloma during these retirement years has not been easy for you and your family, but your strength of character, and positive outlook have always prevailed. As we say in sports, Kirk, you didn’t “lose the battle, you just ran out of time.”

    You did yourself, your family, your coach, your athletes, and your church proud, Kirk. You made a difference to all of us, fellow Teammate!

    Sincerely,

    Coach Tom Quinn

  3. Coach Stewart was a great influence, teacher, and coach for our son. It was an honor to have known him. Our condolences to his family.

  4. Kirk and I had some great games playing against each other back in 1958 and 1959 when he attended Northwood High School in suburban D.C. and I attended Bladensburg High School in Prince Georges County Maryland. Kirk was always a great competitor, an excellent basketball player, plus a true sportsman who played the game the way it should be played. The last time I saw him was at Furman University in 1960/1961. I am so sorry to hear of his passing, but also glad to hear what a great success Kirk was in life. We must all treasure each day as if it’s our last for sure. My deepest sympathies to Kirk’s family.

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