Augusta University athletics has named Celeste Stewart as Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach for the 2022-23 season. Stewart steps into the role after serving as the women’s basketball assistant coach since 2018.
“We are excited to extend this opportunity to lead our Women’s Basketball team for the 2022-23 season to Coach Stewart,” said Interim Director of Athletics Melissa Brocato. “Celeste has proven herself through her dedication, enthusiasm and hard work, not only to the Women’s Basketball team but to our department as well. She is more than capable to step in as interim head coach, and I know she will do a great job.”
Celeste Stewart was named assistant coach at Augusta University in 2018. During the 2021-22 season, she helped the Jaguars to a 15-13 overall record – their best season since 2016. During her time as an assistant at Augusta, she coached the 2019 PBC Freshman of the Year and four All-Conference selections.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to fulfill this role for our program,” said Stewart. “I would like to thank Dr. Keel and Melissa Brocato for trusting me to lead our student-athletes. I’m also very appreciative of the support from Coach Millette Green, coaching staff, players, athletic department, Augusta University, family and friends.
I’m honored to lead our women’s basketball program. The foundation for our team is set in place, the standard and expectation doesn’t change. I look forward to building on the foundation we have set and continuing to develop our student athletes on and off the court. Go Jags!”
Prior to coming to Augusta, Stewart was on staff at ECU for a single season, after working at Wingate University from 2014-2018. Stewart served as an assistant coach during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons at Wingate, helping the Bulldogs reach a pair of NCAA Regional Semifinals and win the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship. She handled on-the-floor coaching and skill development of individual players and prepared scouting reports. She played an integral role in Wingate’s recruiting efforts, helping to organize visits as well as evaluating and recruiting student-athletes.
Prior to her elevation as an assistant coach at WU, Stewart was a graduate assistant for Wingate from 2014 to 2016. She helped the Bulldogs win the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Tournament and make two NCAA Tournament appearances. She assisted with recruiting as well as preparing scouting reports, scouting film of opposing teams and creating highlight films for every game.
Stewart is a 2013 ECU graduate and played for head coach Heather Macy during her time in Greenville. She was a Conference USA first team All-Conference player in 2013 and was ECU’s Most Valuable Player for both the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. She is seventh all-time at ECU with 366 career assists.
Stewart earned her bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy from ECU in 2013. She completed her master’s degree in sport management from Wingate in 2016.
Photo Courtesy Augusta Athletics
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