Report: Assistant Expected to Leave WVU Football to Return to NFL

Just when Rich Rodriguez finally thought he had his WVU football staff in place, a key assistant is now expected leave West Virginia to return to the NFL. According to EerSports, Blaine Stewart, who was retained by Rodriguez to serve as the inside receivers coach, will instead take a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This move will leave another hole on WVU’s staff after Rodriguez had to recently hire a new running back coach upon the departure of Chad Scott to Texas. Prior to coming back to Morgantown to be Neal Brown’s tight ends coach in before the 2023 season, Stewart worked with the Steelers,

Stewart’s four-year run under Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh was his first crack at a major coaching opportunity.

“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.

Up until this point, Rodriguez has openly talked about feeling it made sense to keep Stewart on staff due to his deep connection to the state and school and his progression up the coaching ranks.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

“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.”

Blaine’s father, Bill, worked under Rodriguez on his first WVU staff and then took over as head coach upon his exit to Michigan in 2007.

Unlike when losing Scott and needing a running backs coach, it’s possible Rodriguez could decide to continue on without replacing Stewart. Rodriguez brought in Ryan Garrett to be his main wide receivers coach and Michael Nysewander as his tight ends coach, leaving Stewart with a reduced role, possibly trigger his interest in an opportunity in the NFL.