Bill Stewart (football coach)
Encyclopedia
Bill "Stew" Stewart is an American football
coach. He was named interim head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers
after Rich Rodriguez
left for Michigan
in December 2007. After leading the Mountaineers to a 48–28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners
in the Fiesta Bowl
, he was formally named the school’s 32nd head football coach on January 3, 2008. Stewart resigned amid much accusations of initiating a smear campaign against his appointed successor. An investigation done by WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck was unable to substantiate reporters' allegations. He was previously the head coach of Virginia Military Institute
for three seasons where he was forced to resign amid controversy due to racist remarks allegedly made by Stewart towards one of his black players. He is now working as a college football analyst for ESPN.
, where he was a three-year letterman
and team captain for the WVIAC
champions in 1974.
of Fairmont State, where he was a student assistant coach for a season. He became an assistant coach at Sistersville (W.Va.) High School in 1975.
In 1977, he moved to Salem College where he was an assistant football and head track coach for two seasons. In 1979, he was an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina
. He has also been an assistant coach at Marshall University
(1980), William and Mary (1981–1983), Navy
(1984), North Carolina (1985–1987), Arizona State
(1988–1989) and Air Force
(1990–1993).
. In three years, he compiled an 8-25 record. Bill Stewart gave current Pittsburgh Steelers
' head coach Mike Tomlin
his first job as an assistant at VMI in 1995. Coach Tomlin returned the favor by vouching for Stewart with the West Virginia University administration.
Stewart resigned in 1996 after making a racially-insensitive comment towards a player regarding his on-field behavior. Stewart used the "N-word" to describe an African American player's celebration for a interception returned for a touchdown. Stewart was forced to resign and later sued VMI for money he thought he was owed. Stewart described the incident as "an isolated incident" that happened while he was "trying to help the kid", and has said he never uttered another slur since.
of the Canadian Football League
in 1998. His line blocked for Mike Pringle
, the first 2000 rusher in CFL history. In 1999, he moved on to be the offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
where he coached two all-conference receivers and a one thousand-yard rusher.
hired Stewart at WVU in January, 2000 as the quarterbacks coach. Stewart was retained by Rich Rodriguez
when he became the head coach after the 2000 season. Stewart remained the quarterbacks coach and special teams coach until 2007 when he moved to coach the tight ends and serve as associate head coach.
on December 16, 2007; Stewart was named interim
head coach of the Mountaineers for the 2008 Fiesta Bowl
game. In that game Stewart led the team to a 48-28 upset win over the #3 Oklahoma Sooners
. During the press conference following the awards ceremony, Fiesta Bowl MVP
and West Virginia quarterback Pat White said of Stewart, "He needs that job. He deserves it, the head coaching job."
WVU booster and co-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Ken Kendrick
, however, was unhappy with the hiring of Stewart. Kendrick called Stewart "overmatched" and said that he was "very concerned" for the future of WVU football.
On January 3, 2008, a day after the Fiesta Bowl victory, Bill Stewart was announced as West Virginia's 32nd head coach. Stewart agreed to a five-year contract for $800,000 a year, totaling a $4 million base salary. Stewart hired former Mountaineer assistant coaches and players Steve Dunlap, David Lockwood, and Doc Holliday, along with assistant coach Chris Beatty and Dave Johnson. Stewart was also able to keep defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel
and defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich.
On February 6, 2008, Bill Stewart's recruiting class signed 23 letters of intent. The class did not include running back Terence Kerns, from Hargrave Military Academy, who later signed. Hawaiian center Benji Kemoeatu signed later in March as well. Jerome Swinton, a cornerback from Florida
, was called, “The best football player we have...he’s probably the best football player we recruited," by Stewart. The 2008 class, led by 5-star offensive guard Josh Jenkins from Parkersburg, West Virginia
, was ranked 37th by Scout.com and 44th by Rivals.com.
West Virginia opened up the 2008 season
with a 48–21 victory over Villanova
, in which Pat White threw for a career-high 5 touchdowns. However, the Mountaineers were then upset by ECU
, 24–3. White was held under 100 yards passing and rushing, and running back Noel Devine
was held under 100 yards rushing for the second consecutive game. The Mountaineers then traveled to Boulder, Colorado
, where they were defeated by the Colorado Buffaloes
, 17–14, in overtime. The loss was highlighted by a 23-yard field goal miss in overtime by senior kicker Pat McAfee
that allowed Colorado to kick a field goal to win the game. Before conference play opened, the Mountaineers defeated Marshall
, 27–3, to even their record at 2–2. Stewart followed-up the rivalry game victory with a 24–17 win over Rutgers
, and then a 17–6 win over Syracuse
to produce a 4–2 record. Next, the Mountaineers rebounded from being down 17–3 before halftime against the Auburn Tigers
, to score 31 unanswered points on the way to a 34–17 victory in Morgantown
. The Mountaineers then upset the #25 Connecticut Huskies
35–13 for the Mountaineers first road victory of the season and to move them into the national polls for the first time since before the loss to Colorado (20 - AP, 23 - USA Today, 25 - BCS). However, they dropped out of the national rankings after a 26–23 overtime loss to Big East champion Cincinnati
. After a 35–21 win over Louisville
, the Mountaineers dropped the Backyard Brawl
, 19–15, to #25 Pittsburgh
. The Mountaineers finished out the regular season with a 13–7 victory over USF
in a "White-Out" to honor Pat White. The team finished 9–4 in Stewart's inaugural season with a 31–30 victory over #25 North Carolina
in the Meineke Car Care Bowl
.
, who would spend 2011 as the team's offensive coordinator.
, reported that Stewart had asked him and a reporter with The Charleston Gazette
to dig up dirt about Holgorsen and smear his name in headlines for their respective papers. These calls were made in December before Holgorsen even came to West Virginia. While athletic director Oliver Luck
was unable to fully substantiate the reporters' claims, WVU ultimately sought Stewart's immediate resignation and pressured the coach to supply it. Stewart obliged, and in turn received the legally-obligated remainder of his contract. It was reported that Stewart was allegedly fired for "conduct detrimental to the university" but publicly allowed to resign.
. They have one son, Blaine. Stewart is Christian
.
* Stewart served as interim coach for the Fiesta Bowl after Rich Rodriguez
left for Michigan. West Virginia credits the 2007 regular season to Rodriguez and the Fiesta Bowl to Stewart.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. He was named interim head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
after Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
left for Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
in December 2007. After leading the Mountaineers to a 48–28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in the Fiesta Bowl
2008 Fiesta Bowl
The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game sponsored by Tostitos. It was part of the 2007–2008 Bowl Championship Series of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Played annually since 1971, first at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe,...
, he was formally named the school’s 32nd head football coach on January 3, 2008. Stewart resigned amid much accusations of initiating a smear campaign against his appointed successor. An investigation done by WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck was unable to substantiate reporters' allegations. He was previously the head coach of Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
for three seasons where he was forced to resign amid controversy due to racist remarks allegedly made by Stewart towards one of his black players. He is now working as a college football analyst for ESPN.
Playing career
Stewart is a 1975 education graduate of Fairmont State CollegeFairmont State University
Fairmont State University is a public university located in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA. Enrollment of the university is about 7,700 and offers masters degrees in business, education, teaching, criminal justice and nursing in addition to 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees...
, where he was a three-year letterman
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
and team captain for the WVIAC
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which historically operated exclusively in the state of West Virginia, but has now expanded into Pennsylvania...
champions in 1974.
Early career
Stewart’s coaching career began at his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of Fairmont State, where he was a student assistant coach for a season. He became an assistant coach at Sistersville (W.Va.) High School in 1975.
In 1977, he moved to Salem College where he was an assistant football and head track coach for two seasons. In 1979, he was an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
. He has also been an assistant coach at Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
(1980), William and Mary (1981–1983), Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
(1984), North Carolina (1985–1987), Arizona State
Arizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
(1988–1989) and Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
(1990–1993).
Virginia Military Institute
In 1994, he assumed the head coaching position at Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
. In three years, he compiled an 8-25 record. Bill Stewart gave current Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
' head coach Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin
Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history...
his first job as an assistant at VMI in 1995. Coach Tomlin returned the favor by vouching for Stewart with the West Virginia University administration.
Stewart resigned in 1996 after making a racially-insensitive comment towards a player regarding his on-field behavior. Stewart used the "N-word" to describe an African American player's celebration for a interception returned for a touchdown. Stewart was forced to resign and later sued VMI for money he thought he was owed. Stewart described the incident as "an isolated incident" that happened while he was "trying to help the kid", and has said he never uttered another slur since.
Canadian Football League
Stewart served as the offensive line coach for the Montreal AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
in 1998. His line blocked for Mike Pringle
Mike Pringle (football player)
Mike Pringle is an American former professional gridiron football player. A running back, he had a highly successful career in the Canadian Football League , during which he set or tied almost every significant league records for the position...
, the first 2000 rusher in CFL history. In 1999, he moved on to be the offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
where he coached two all-conference receivers and a one thousand-yard rusher.
2000–2007
Head coach Don NehlenDon Nehlen
Don Nehlen is a former American football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and at West Virginia University . Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 with a career record of 202–128–8 and as the 17th winningest coach in...
hired Stewart at WVU in January, 2000 as the quarterbacks coach. Stewart was retained by Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
when he became the head coach after the 2000 season. Stewart remained the quarterbacks coach and special teams coach until 2007 when he moved to coach the tight ends and serve as associate head coach.
2008 season
Following Rodriguez's departure to become the head coach at the University of MichiganMichigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
on December 16, 2007; Stewart was named interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
head coach of the Mountaineers for the 2008 Fiesta Bowl
2008 Fiesta Bowl
The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game sponsored by Tostitos. It was part of the 2007–2008 Bowl Championship Series of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Played annually since 1971, first at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe,...
game. In that game Stewart led the team to a 48-28 upset win over the #3 Oklahoma Sooners
2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2007-2008, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship for the fifth time in eight years. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops...
. During the press conference following the awards ceremony, Fiesta Bowl MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and West Virginia quarterback Pat White said of Stewart, "He needs that job. He deserves it, the head coaching job."
WVU booster and co-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
Ken Kendrick
Ken Kendrick
Earl G. "Ken" Kendrick Jr. is a baseball executive with the National League Arizona Diamondbacks. He became part-owner with the team's inception in 1995 and Managing General Partner in 2004, replacing Jerry Colangelo after a lengthy disagreement over Colangelo's role with the franchise he founded;...
, however, was unhappy with the hiring of Stewart. Kendrick called Stewart "overmatched" and said that he was "very concerned" for the future of WVU football.
On January 3, 2008, a day after the Fiesta Bowl victory, Bill Stewart was announced as West Virginia's 32nd head coach. Stewart agreed to a five-year contract for $800,000 a year, totaling a $4 million base salary. Stewart hired former Mountaineer assistant coaches and players Steve Dunlap, David Lockwood, and Doc Holliday, along with assistant coach Chris Beatty and Dave Johnson. Stewart was also able to keep defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel
Jeff Casteel
Jeff Casteel is the current defensive coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team. Casteel also is the linebackers coach for the Mountaineers.-Early Life and Coaching:...
and defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich.
On February 6, 2008, Bill Stewart's recruiting class signed 23 letters of intent. The class did not include running back Terence Kerns, from Hargrave Military Academy, who later signed. Hawaiian center Benji Kemoeatu signed later in March as well. Jerome Swinton, a cornerback from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, was called, “The best football player we have...he’s probably the best football player we recruited," by Stewart. The 2008 class, led by 5-star offensive guard Josh Jenkins from Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
, was ranked 37th by Scout.com and 44th by Rivals.com.
West Virginia opened up the 2008 season
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
with a 48–21 victory over Villanova
Villanova Wildcats football
The Villanova Wildcats football program represents Villanova University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The Wildcats play at Villanova Stadium with capacity of 12,500.-History:...
, in which Pat White threw for a career-high 5 touchdowns. However, the Mountaineers were then upset by ECU
East Carolina Pirates
The East Carolina Pirates are the intercollegiate sports teams representing East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. All varsity-level sports teams sponsored by the university compete in NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA...
, 24–3. White was held under 100 yards passing and rushing, and running back Noel Devine
Noel Devine
Noel Devine is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.He had a...
was held under 100 yards rushing for the second consecutive game. The Mountaineers then traveled to Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, where they were defeated by the Colorado Buffaloes
2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Hawkins and played their home games in Folsom Field.-Pre-season:...
, 17–14, in overtime. The loss was highlighted by a 23-yard field goal miss in overtime by senior kicker Pat McAfee
Pat McAfee
Patrick "Pat" McAfee is an American football punter for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was a placekicker, punter, and soccer player at West Virginia.-Freshman season:...
that allowed Colorado to kick a field goal to win the game. Before conference play opened, the Mountaineers defeated Marshall
2008 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
The 2008 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Marshall competed as a member of the East Division of Conference USA, and played their home...
, 27–3, to even their record at 2–2. Stewart followed-up the rivalry game victory with a 24–17 win over Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey...
, and then a 17–6 win over Syracuse
2008 Syracuse Orange football team
The 2008 Syracuse Orange football team is the football team representing Syracuse University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange is coached by Greg Robinson and plays their home games in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York....
to produce a 4–2 record. Next, the Mountaineers rebounded from being down 17–3 before halftime against the Auburn Tigers
2008 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2008 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Tommy Tuberville served his tenth season as head coach at Auburn...
, to score 31 unanswered points on the way to a 34–17 victory in Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
. The Mountaineers then upset the #25 Connecticut Huskies
2008 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2008 Connecticut Huskies football team represents the University of Connecticut in the 2008 college football season as a member of the Big East Conference...
35–13 for the Mountaineers first road victory of the season and to move them into the national polls for the first time since before the loss to Colorado (20 - AP, 23 - USA Today, 25 - BCS). However, they dropped out of the national rankings after a 26–23 overtime loss to Big East champion Cincinnati
2008 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
The 2008 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represents the University of Cincinnati in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, plays its homes game in Nippert Stadium. Kelly is in his second full season with the Bearcats after coaching them to a 31–21 win...
. After a 35–21 win over Louisville
2008 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2008 Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in the 2008 college football season. The team, led by Steve Kragthorpe in his second year at the school, plays their home games in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and are in their fourth year in the Big East...
, the Mountaineers dropped the Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
, 19–15, to #25 Pittsburgh
2008 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2008 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2008 college football season. The season was the fourth under head coach Dave Wannstedt, who was looking to achieve his first winning season with the Panthers...
. The Mountaineers finished out the regular season with a 13–7 victory over USF
2008 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2008 South Florida Bulls football team will represent the University of South Florida in the 2008 college football season. Their head coach is Jim Leavitt, and the USF Bulls will play all of their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 2008 college football season is only the...
in a "White-Out" to honor Pat White. The team finished 9–4 in Stewart's inaugural season with a 31–30 victory over #25 North Carolina
2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team began their season on August 30 against McNeese State at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The team originally went 4–4 in conference play and 8–5 overall, but in 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons.-Recruiting:The Tar...
in the Meineke Car Care Bowl
2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl
The 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl was the seventh edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game started at 1:00 PM US EST on Saturday, December 27, 2008. The game, telecast on ESPN, pitted the North Carolina Tar Heels...
.
2009 season
Stewart and the coaching staff at WVU opened up the 2009 football season by signing the #23/#27 (Scout.com/Rivals.com) recruiting class, which included the #3 quarterback Eugene Smith, the #5 running back Tavon Austin, and the #8 receiver Logan Heastie. On the field, the Mountaineers had a perfect record at home, including a 19-16 upset of then-#8 Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl. However, the team's record away from home included three regular season losses (at Auburn, at South Florida, and at Cincinnati). The Mountaineers also lost in the Gator Bowl versus Florida State in Bobby Bowden's final game as head football coach of the Seminoles.2010 season
Stewart coached West Virginia to a second-straight 9-3 regular season record and a share of the Big East title (although the BCS bid went to the University of Connecticut due to a tiebreaker edge). However, for the second consecutive season, the Mountaineers played poorly in their bowl game, suffering a 23-7 loss to North Carolina State in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Florida on December 28. The game marked a season low for points scored by WVU and season highs for points allowed, turnovers, and margin of defeat. After the regular season ended, it was announced that Stewart would coach the team for the 2011 season, after which he would step down and take a position in the WVU Athletic Department, and the head coaching position would go to Dana HolgorsenDana Holgorsen
Dana Holgorsen is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head football coach at West Virginia University, having succeeded Bill Stewart, who resigned under pressure on June 10, 2011...
, who would spend 2011 as the team's offensive coordinator.
2011 coaching controversy
On June 10, 2011, Bill Stewart resigned as head football coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers and Dana Holgorsen took over immediately. The relationship between Stewart and Holgorsen had been strained from the beginning, and came to a head in late May when Colin Dunlap, a journalist with the Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, reported that Stewart had asked him and a reporter with The Charleston Gazette
The Charleston Gazette
The Charleston Gazette is a five-day morning newspaper in Charleston, West Virginia. It is published Monday through Friday mornings. On Saturday and Sunday mornings the combined Charleston Gazette-Mail is published, which is, more or less, similar to the Gazette.The Gazette was established in...
to dig up dirt about Holgorsen and smear his name in headlines for their respective papers. These calls were made in December before Holgorsen even came to West Virginia. While athletic director Oliver Luck
Oliver Luck
Oliver Luck is the athletic director of West Virginia University, his alma mater. Luck is a retired American football player who spent four seasons in the National Football League as a quarterback for the Houston Oilers . He was also the first president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo...
was unable to fully substantiate the reporters' claims, WVU ultimately sought Stewart's immediate resignation and pressured the coach to supply it. Stewart obliged, and in turn received the legally-obligated remainder of his contract. It was reported that Stewart was allegedly fired for "conduct detrimental to the university" but publicly allowed to resign.
Personal life
Bill Stewart and his wife, Karen, are both natives of New Martinsville, West VirginiaNew Martinsville, West Virginia
New Martinsville is a city in Wetzel County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 5,984 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Wetzel County.-Geography:New Martinsville is located at ....
. They have one son, Blaine. Stewart is Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
.
Head coaching record
*First 12 games coached by Rich RodriguezRich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
left for Michigan. West Virginia credits the 2007 regular season to Rodriguez and the Fiesta Bowl to Stewart.