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Neal Brown Emphasizes Blaine Stewart Didn’t Get Hired Because of His Name

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Even though the reaction to West Virginia hiring Blaine Stewart as the program’s new tight ends coach has been very positive, head coach Neal Brown wanted to make something concerning the move crystal clear during his press conference on Monday.

“Blaine didn’t get hired because his dad was a head coach here,” Brown said with conviction while discussing why he decided to bring Stewart home to WVU. Since Blaine being the son of the late Bill Stewart became most of the focus after the news was reported and then announced by the Mountaineers, Brown wanted to highlight why he actually felt this was the right time to add Blaine to his staff.

“Blaine did a really good job of developing and growing relationships within this building,” said Brown about why Stewart will fit in well. Brown then detailed going up to Pittsburgh to watch him coach with the Steelers and how much he respects Mike Tomlin and knows Tomlin is great at developing younger coaches under him.

All of that and the fact that multiple current staffers continuously brought up Stewart’s name as an option to fill some of the coaching vacancies led Brown to offer him a job. Brown also expressed similar sentiments about Stewart in WVU’s press release about the move.

“Blaine Stewart is no stranger to West Virginia University football. His father was a part of this program for 11 years, including three as the head coach, and Blaine grew up around Mountaineer football. I am happy to welcome him home,” WVU head coach Neal Brown said about the hire. “He has worked with multiple position groups, coordinators and offensive systems with the Pittsburgh Steelers to go along with their special teams. I have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Mike Tomlin and the entire Steelers organization and Blaine comes highly recommended.

“He builds relationships, and you can tell that he is the son of a coach. He knows and has worked with members of our current coaching staff in the past which will also be an asset. His enthusiasm and love for this program will be contagious,” added Brown.

Stewart was in his second season with the Steelers as assistant wide receivers coach. He spent two seasons as a coaching assistant before being promoted to his most recent role. Stewart is coming to the Mountaineers after a recent change in the wide receiver coach position with the hiring of Bilal Marshall.

Prior to embarking on a career in coaching, the Morgantown, West Virginia native played wide receiver at the University of Charleston (W. Va.) in 2016 and 2017, after beginning his collegiate career at James Madison University (2013-15).

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