Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 31, 1993 TAG: 9312310189
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Just as it did five years ago, VMI chose a football coach with experience at a military academy and the Wishbone offense to revive its ailing program.
The institute officially announced on Thursday the hiring of Bill Stewart as head football coach. Stewart has been the defensive line coach at the Air Force Academy, which runs the Wishbone offense under head coach Fisher DeBerry, since 1990.
Stewart replaces Jim Shuck, who used the offensive set and modified versions of the Wishbone for five seasons at VMI without much success. Shuck was fired Dec. 7 with a 14-40-1 record.
"I am extremely happy to have Bill Stewart join our VMI family as head coach," said Davis Babb, VMI's athletic director. "He is widely respected in the coaching community and brings a tremendous amount of experience and enthusiasm to our program. Bill has a solid understanding of the importance of successful athletics in a military school environment. I am confident in his ability to lead the way in turning our football program around."
Before arriving at Air Force, Stewart was an assistant at Arizona State (1988-90), North Carolina (1979 and 1985-87), Navy (1984), William and Mary (1981-83), Marshall (1980) and Salem (1977-78).
"We're fortunate to have a man with successful coaching experience at military schools and at conference and in-state schools," said Maj. Gen. John Knapp, VMI's superintendent. "Also, recruiting in our area is one of his strong points. He's eager to go and so are we."
Stewart, 41, is a native of West Virginia who played on the offensive line at Fairmont State (W.Va.) College. He said he was pleased to join the staff at VMI.
"When I was at Marshall and William and Mary, VMI was always a tough stop on the schedule, and their kids always played with a lot of heart and emotion," Stewart said. "I know how much the program means to the institute and to the alumni, and we're going to the get the program back where it should be."
by CNB