Rumored for the last week or so to be one of Kevin Sumlin’s top choices to become Houston’s next defensive coordinator, Brian Stewart was officially announced today as the Cougars’ new coordinator, the school announced this afternoon.
Stewart spent 2009 as a defensive special assistant on Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles staff, and was the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys for two years prior to that.
It will be Stewart first job at the collegiate level since he was an assistant at Syracuse in 2001. He also coached at, among other schools, Missouri and San Jose State back in the nineties.
“We are excited about Brian joining the University of Houston as our new defensive coordinator,” Sumlin said in a statement. “His prior experience as defensive coordinator in the NFL and as a position coach at the collegiate level is exactly what we were looking for to elevate our defense to the next level.
“Brian brings a combination of experience and energy to our staff, which is what separated him from all the other candidates. Also, he and his family are familiar with Houston, having been here when he coached for the Texans, and they are looking forward to returning to Houston.”
“I think Coach Sumlin has done a great job at Houston, and I am glad to join his staff,” Stewart said in his own statement. “Obviously, his offense is one of the best in the nation and scores a lot of points. What that does for the defense, is that it puts us in a position to attack and put a tremendous amount of pressure on the quarterback.
“Plus, I am excited about coming back to the city of Houston. This city is a hotbed for talent with an opportunity for UH to be a consistent winner. I would like to be a head coach some day, so being a successful coordinator in a successful program in a large city like Houston will put me in line to do so.”