Bill Stewart was born in New Martinsville, WV and attended Fairmont State for his undergradaute work, before getting a Masters degree from the University of West Virginia in Health and Physical Educaton in 1977. Stewart had numerous assistant coaching jobs in the U.S. college ranks before getting his first head coaching assignment with Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1994. Stewarrt spent two seasons as an assistant coach in the CFL, with Montreal in 1998 and Winnipeg in 1999. Stewart then returned to the States where he became an assistant coach at the Universityh of Western Virginia until 2007. In 2007, Stewart abruptly became the head coach with the unexpected departure of Rich Rodriguez just prior to the Fiesta Bowl. Stewart led the Mountaineers to a victory in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007, and was then named the permanent head coach. Stewart kept the position for three seasons, compiling a 28-12 record, but not making it to any bowl games. Stewart ended up being abruptly replaced in the summer of 2011. Bill Stewart died of a heart attack on May 21, 2012.
