Mike Stewart
The coaching resume of Mike Stewart immediately raises two questions; where do you start and how do you condense his achievements into one simple script?
For over 40 years, “Stewie” has been guiding athletes of all ages and abilities through the learning curves of Badminton, Field Hockey, Soccer and Tennis. He has coached 105 teams over those years and under his direction those teams have won 18 NSSAF Regional banners, were runners up in Provincial Championships five times and were crowned Provincial Champions six times. In 1980, five members of his BRHS Girls Field Hockey Team were chosen for Team Nova Scotia and that team won a Silver Medal at the Canadian Junior Field Hockey Championships. The five Bridgetown girls were all starters. His Badminton athletes have won Individual Medals and Honors at every level of competition – regionally, provincially and at the Maritime and Atlantic levels.
Born in Moncton, Mike attended Moncton High School where he participated in badminton, curling, volleyball, softball, tennis and track and field and that love of sports has formed an integral part of his life.
Consider the following:
From 1972 to 1975 “Michael Jean” coached the Moncton Tennis team.
While attending Acadia University, he was the Player/Coach of both the Varsity Tennis and the Varsity Badminton teams.
In Field Hockey, his BRHS Junior Girls Field Hockey Team won Regional Banners in 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.
His BRHS Senior Girls Field Hockey Team won Regional Banners in 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, were Provincial Runners-up in 1977 and 1981 and were crowned NSSAF Provincial Champions in 1979 and again in 1980.
In 1982, he also coached a Bridgetown Boy’s Field Hockey Team and a Bridgetown Girl’s Field Hockey Team to respective Provincial Indoor championships.
In 1983 he was named coach of Team Nova Scotia for Badminton at the Canada Winter Games.
Also in Badminton, Mike coached the BRHS Junior Team to a Regional Banner in 1985 and the BRHS Senior Team to Regional Banners in 1985, 2001 and 2002.
In 2001 his BRHS Senior Team Members were Provincial Runners-Up and in 2002 they claimed the NSSAF Provincial Championship. Moving on to soccer, Mike coached the BRHS 1986 Junior Girls Team to a Regional Banner and under his leadership the BRHS Senior Girls Soccer Team won Regional Banners in 1995, 1998 and 1999.
In 1988 and 1996 they were Runners-Up at the Provincial Championships and the 1997 Team won the NSSAF Provincial Championship.
In 1985, Mike was named N.S. Field Hockey Coach of the Year at the Annual Moosehead Awards. He achieved Level Two Coaching status in badminton, tennis, soccer and field hockey. Despite the amazing time commitment that these achievements required Mike also continued to personally compete in Tennis, Badminton and Lawn Bowling and has literally won too many tournaments and awards to be listed.
A successful coach is rarely one dimensional and Mike is no exception. In addition to the incredible athletic success his athletes have achieved, Mike will always be remembered for his determination to take kids tubing or hiking or on some other ”adventure”. He will be remembered for singing at every opportunity (even while teaching), for his quick wit and infectious laugh, for his ability to tell a great story and for his uncanny luck to often be the story. Just ask him about the “elevator delivery” or where the “crow flies”.