Belleville, IL – The Lindenwood University – Belleville Athletic Department is proud to announce the recent hiring of Pat Stewart as the head football coach. After taking over midseason as interim head coach in 2018, Stewart is going to guide the Lynx for the 2019 season.
“We wanted to get the very best person for our head football coach obviously, but it also had to be the right fit,” Athletic Director Ryan Kaiser said. “Coach Stewart has been on the staff the past two years and he understands where we were, what we are currently, and where we must improve moving forward. This is a difficult job, we play in the strongest NAIA league in the country and week in and week out, this conference is not for the faint of heart. Seven out of the eleven teams we played this year at one point or another were receiving votes or ranked in the top 25. This is not Coach Stewart’s first rodeo, he has been coordinating defenses for a long time and has been a head coach before. I feel confident in his plan moving forward that we will not only compete, but will have successes both on and off the field moving forward. I look forward to the journey ahead.”
Stewart replaced former Head Coach Kevin Turco at the end of September.
“I have so much appreciation for Coach Turco and the foundation that he laid for our team,” Athletic Director Ryan Kaiser said. “There were many hours spent developing a culture of this football team, we are in such a better place because of him, for that I am truly grateful!”
“This is a great opportunity and a great challenge,” Stewart said on his recent promotion. “Lindenwood is a unique institution, and it offers a unique experience when you look at the number of sports that are offered here. The football experience, the educational experience, and the total life experience that you can have at this institution is something that’s exciting and that I feel I can talk to people about.”
Stewart played collegiately at Western State University (1985-88), where he lettered four times, was twice named a first-team All-Conference (RMAC) Linebacker and is currently ranked ninth in the RMAC for career tackles and ninth for most tackles in a game.
Stewart also helped two football programs win four RMAC championships as well as four national playoff appearances – two as a linebackers coach (Western State University) and two as a defensive coordinator (University of Nebraska Kearney). He has over 25 years of football coaching experience primarily as a defensive coordinator, as well as head coaching experience at Western State University.
Stewart has worked with Hall of Fame coaches Duke Iverson and Casey Coons (Western State University), Joe Glenn (Northern Colorado), and future Hall of Fame Head Coach Darrell Morris (University of Nebraska Kearney).
He has also coached with current NFL Defensive Coordinator Todd Wash of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Special Teams Coordinator Nate Kaczor of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, when they were both coaching at Nebraska Kearney.
He has coached future NFL All-Pro Defensive Lineman Aaron Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers), Linebacker Shaheed Salmon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Linebacker Shane Carwin, who later became an MMA star.
When it comes to coaching college athletes, Stewart’s criteria to be successful is noted.
“It is really important that as coaches and players that we’re developing the relationships, whether it’s coach-to-coach or coach-to-player,” Stewart said. “We’re working on our team chemistry on a daily basis, which creates culture within our program. Another goal of mine is for us to be very competitive in every game that we play, which is a lofty goal given that we are in the best conference in the country for football. But that’s a great challenge for us, getting to face some of the best football players in the country on a weekly basis.”
Throughout the 2018 season, the Lynx faced five nationally ranked opponents in just 11 games, (No. 17 Saint Xavier University, No. 15 Concordia University, No. 8 University of Saint Francis Indiana, No. 20 Siena Heights University, and No. 2 Marian University).
Stewart is aware that the Lynx will have their work cut out for them next year, but is by no means discouraged by the opportunity.
“It’s important that the players enjoy the experience,” Stewart said. “I think seeing that would be a result of them getting better both individually and as a unit and seeing that progress moving forward would be very enjoyable.”
Fans make sure to stay updated on lindenwoodlynx.com throughout the 2018-19 offseason for full updates and recaps on the Lindenwood football team.
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