
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 30, 1993                   TAG: 9312300129
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VMI PICKS AIR FORCE ASSISTANT/ BILL STEWART LIKELY TO GET JOB TODAY

VMI officials today are expected to appoint Bill Stewart the school's 26th head football coach, according to sources close to the situation.

Stewart has been the defensive line coach at the Air Force Acade- Stewart my since 1990. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday night at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Stewart, 41, replaces Jim Shuck, who was fired Dec. 7 after compiling a 14-40-1 record over five seasons at VMI. The institute bought out the remaining two years on Shuck's contract for approximately $117,000.

Stewart inherits a team that went 1-10 last season, with the only victory against Southern Conference opponent Tennessee-Chattanooga in two overtimes.

The Grafton, W.Va., native played on the offensive line at West Virginia in 1970 before transfering to Fairmont (W.Va.) State College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education while lettering three years in football. He received a master's degree from West Virginia.

Before arriving at the Air Force Academy, Stewart was an assistant at Arizona State (1988-90), North Carolina (1979 and 1985-87), the Naval Academy (1984), William and Mary (1981-83), Marshall (1980) and Salem College (1977-78).

VMI is expected to make an announcement today and formally introduce the new coach at the beginning of next week.

Also considered for the job were Al Seagraves, assistant head coach at The Citadel; Virginia assistant Danny Wilmer; and VMI defensive coordinator Mike Clark.

by CNB