Faced with the prospect of replacing ultra-successful head football coach Jeff Brohm – hired away by Big Ten Conference program Purdue earlier this month after three seasons coaching the Hilltoppers – Stewart had the daunting task of "keeping the train rolling," finding the right coach to ensure that WKU's rapid ascent up the FBS ranks isn't followed by an equally precipitous descent with the loss of its prized head coach.
This is Stewart's third time at this football coach-hiring business, and so far he's had the knack for making just the right move. First came Bobby Petrino, a big name with an established track record, to follow up the hard-earned success of coach Willie Taggart, who built the foundation of a strong program making the painful transition from FCS level to the FBS before leaving to coach South Florida.