2000-2007: West Virginia - Assistant Coach
1999: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) - Offensive Coordinator
1998: Montreal Alouettes - Offensive Line Coach
1994-1996: VMI - Head Coach
1990-1993: Air Force
1988-1989: Arizona State
1985-1987: North Carolina
1984: Navy
1981-1983: William & Mary
1980: Marshall
1979: North Carolina
1977-1978: Salem College
It would be an understatement to say that Bill Stewart's career path has not been the typical one for a head coach at a top 10 program. After moving through various high school and college assistant jobs, some in D-IA, he landed the VMI head coaching position in 1994. After a three year run where he compiled an 8-25 record, he resigned under pressure due to a racially insensitive remark. His remark was likely isolated and benign, but nonetheless, it banished him to the Canadian Football League for three seasons. He returned to the college game as an assistant in 2000 at West Virginia, his home state's top state institution. He was originally hired by Don Nehlan, but was retained by Rich Rodriguez in 2001. All in all, the move to a top 10 program's head coach seems somewhat illogical, especially given his dubious performance at VMI.
Stewart's hiring was the result of some unusual circumstances. Rich Rodriguez left his BCS bowl bound program late in the coaching cycle, making it difficult for the school to find a replacement in the traditional fashion. In addition, as time wore on West Virginia's options were thinning out. Therefore, when the Mountaineers pounded Oklahoma 48-28, it was easy for the administration to move the interim tag from Stewart and officially give him the head coaching position.
The school might have also been reeling from one of the most devastating losses in college football history. When Pittsburgh beat West Virginia 13-9, it started a series of events that ended up with Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor and West Virginia looking for a coach. Given the fact that the administration almost seems more interested in litigating against Rodriguez, Stewart made sense as the university's coach.
Given the difficult situation West Virginia was in, Stewart may give the school its best chance to have success in 2008 and capitalize on the team Rodriguez left behind. His longterm prospectus, however, is much more bleak. How West Virginia manages Stewart's tenure as head coach will dictate its success. If the expectations are for him to lead the program indefinitly, the program is likely headed for a big drop off. However, if the expectations are to try to patch together a 9 or 10 win season in 2008 and quickly begin grooming a long term solution, the Stewart hire could actually work out well. If the Mountaineers roll the good vibes from the Fiesta Bowl and Stewart's good ol' boy persona into a successful 2008 campaign and then look for a long term solution, the Rodriguez era may not go as a total waste. However, if Stewart isn't managed properly, the Pittsburgh loss could be looked back on as something that set a program back for decades.
Stewart's hiring was the result of some unusual circumstances. Rich Rodriguez left his BCS bowl bound program late in the coaching cycle, making it difficult for the school to find a replacement in the traditional fashion. In addition, as time wore on West Virginia's options were thinning out. Therefore, when the Mountaineers pounded Oklahoma 48-28, it was easy for the administration to move the interim tag from Stewart and officially give him the head coaching position.
The school might have also been reeling from one of the most devastating losses in college football history. When Pittsburgh beat West Virginia 13-9, it started a series of events that ended up with Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor and West Virginia looking for a coach. Given the fact that the administration almost seems more interested in litigating against Rodriguez, Stewart made sense as the university's coach.
Given the difficult situation West Virginia was in, Stewart may give the school its best chance to have success in 2008 and capitalize on the team Rodriguez left behind. His longterm prospectus, however, is much more bleak. How West Virginia manages Stewart's tenure as head coach will dictate its success. If the expectations are for him to lead the program indefinitly, the program is likely headed for a big drop off. However, if the expectations are to try to patch together a 9 or 10 win season in 2008 and quickly begin grooming a long term solution, the Stewart hire could actually work out well. If the Mountaineers roll the good vibes from the Fiesta Bowl and Stewart's good ol' boy persona into a successful 2008 campaign and then look for a long term solution, the Rodriguez era may not go as a total waste. However, if Stewart isn't managed properly, the Pittsburgh loss could be looked back on as something that set a program back for decades.
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