FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Brandon Stewart, a former member of Bethune-Cookman Men's Basketball, recently accepted the Girls' Varsity Basketball head coaching position at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He leaves his current position as Girls' Varsity head coach at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he spent five years at the helm of the program.
 
Brandon Stewart played three seasons (2011-13, 2014-15) for the Wildcats under former head coach Gravelle Craig. While with the Cats, Stewart saw action in 35 games, including starts in 18 contests as a senior during the 2014-15 campaign. He poured in 14.1 points and shot 34.2 percent from the field as a senior, turning in 13.2 points per game in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.
 
In his five seasons as the Girls' Varsity head coach at Mainland High, Stewart accumulated an overall record of 86-46. For the 2022-23 season, he led the Buccaneers to their first FHSAA 5-A state title in school history. During the 2023-24 campaign, Stewart guided Mainland to a second consecutive 5-A state finals appearance before falling in overtime to American Heritage.
 
When speaking to Chris Vinel of the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Stewart said it was a tough decision to leave Mainland, but an opportunity he could not pass up in accepting a position closer to his hometown at a prestigious South Florida high school powerhouse.
 
"It was an opportunity that I felt was a lot bigger than just basketball," remarked Stewart. "My mission at Mainland, in ways, it felt complete. It definitely is closer to home, and I'm just blessed to be afforded the opportunity to coach at St. Thomas Aquinas."
 
In his time at Mainland, having taken over the program in 2019, Stewart achieved winning seasons each year, and guided the Buccaneers to three district crowns, two region titles, and he was tabbed the 2023 News-Journal Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Coach of the Year.
 
Oliver Berens, a University of Miami graduate, departed as head coach following the 2023-24 season having coached the Raiders of St. Thomas Aquinas to the 2024 FHSAA Class 6-A state title. Overall, the Raiders have won four consecutive state crowns, respectively.
 
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