Blaine Stewart Shares Emotions About Staying at WVU to Serve Under Rich Rodriguez

From the moment Rich Rodriguez was announced as returning to WVU for a second tenure as head coach, fans started hoping Blaine Stewart would stay and coach under Rodriguez, the same way his father, Bill Stewart, did years ago. And on the last day of 2024, that dream scenario officially became a reality.

Stewart followed West Virginia’s announcement by sharing some of his emotions about going from being a kid hanging around Rodriguez’s West Virginia teams with his dad to now serving on the staff for this special next era in the WVU program.

“The clips in this video literally encapsulate my childhood – I get chills every time I watch them. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with Rich Rodriguez and represent our home state! Let’s goooooo!,” said Stewart while reposting a video montage put together by WVU about Rodriguez’s return from earlier in the month.

The clips in this video literally encapsulate my childhood – I get chills every time I watch them. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with @RealCoachRod and represent our home state! Let’s goooooo! https://t.co/35xOVPwfxI

— Coach Blaine Stewart (@CoachBlaineStew) December 31, 2024

He then even provided a message of his goals for 2025 on New Year’s Day.

2025. 🧘🏼‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/eIJztdSzZG

— Coach Blaine Stewart (@CoachBlaineStew) January 1, 2025

Stewart became the second assistant coach to be officially retained under Rodriguez as Chad Scott was announced as running backs coach earlier the same day.

The uniqueness of having Stewart on his staff isn’t lost on Rodriguez.

“I’m glad to have Blaine as a member of our coaching staff,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

“I had the privilege of working with his father, Bill, during my tenure here. I was able to watch Blaine grow up alongside my children. He is developing into a fine coach and recruiter and is an outstanding young man. He has a lot of the same qualities as his dad, and I look forward to his contributions to our program.”

Stewart has spent the past two seasons as WVU’s tight ends coach. Prior to returning to West Virginia, Stewart worked for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bill Stewart worked under Rodriguez on his first WVU staff and then took over as head coach upon his exit to Michigan in 2007.

For a related story, Mike Asti and Cody Nespor discuss the state of the WVU football roster and staff on Mountaineer Report.