Bill stewart wvu biography of michaels images

After all, he led the West Virginia University football program to the greatest victory in its more than year history. But many may not realize he might well have been just a one-year assistant coach in Morgantown. After spending two years as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League, Stewart returned to his native state in to become the quarterbacks coach for Don Nehlen at West Virginia University.

But following a tough loss to Syracuse, Nehlen walked into the media room and dropped a bombshell that no one saw coming — he would retire at the end of the season. For assistant coaches like Stewart, that meant the distinct possibility of losing their job. After all, whoever was hired to replace Nehlen rightfully would insist on bringing in his own staff.

Fortunately for Stewart — as it turned out, in more ways than one — that new coach was Rich Rodriguez.

Bill stewart wvu biography of michaels images: West Virginia administrators said on Thursday

Like Stewart, he had grown up in West Virginia. Like Stewart, he had coached at Salem College. Rodriguez retained Stewart, placing him in charge of quarterbacks and special teams, positions he held until the fateful year of , when he coached the tight ends and assumed the all-important duties of associate head coach. Like his first season under Nehlen, Stewart had no idea of the drama that was about to take place.

West Virginia was having a banner year.