Pat Stewart begins his fifth season as head coach for Western State. He now paces the sidelines for the same program he earned two All-RMAC linebacker honors from 1985-88.
Stewart starts the season No. 10 in program records for coaching victories and is three wins shy of tying for seventh. He is the 19th head coach in the Mountaineers’ 84 seasons.
Stewart’s 2009 team finished with the most conference wins since 2003 and the best conference finish since 2004.
In his four-year span, Stewart has coordinated a staff responsible for two first-team RMAC selections, seven second-team selections, five third-team selections and seven honorable mention student-athletes.
Stewart spent seven years at RMAC foe Nebraska-Kearney as defensive coordinator prior to moving back to his alma mater in January 2006. He helped lead the Lopers to a pair of RMAC titles and two NCAA Division II Playoff appearances.
As coordinator at Nebraska-Kearney, Stewart’s defenses consistently ranked at the top of the RMAC in total defense, rush defense, scoring defense, takeaways, sacks and tackles for loss.
Stewart also has coaching experience at Olivet (1996-98), Port Charlotte (Fla.) High School (1995) and Northern Colorado (1994).
Stewart was a four-time letterwinner for the Mountaineers before moving to the coaching ranks. He spent the 1989-93 seasons coaching the linebackers under Duke Iverson. During his five-year coaching stint under Iverson, the Mountaineers went 32-19, won two RMAC championships and advanced to the postseason twice.
Stewart still holds the Western State record for tackles in game at 25, set against Southern Utah Sept. 27, 1986. He is second in career records with 398.
Stewart attended Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs where he was an all-conference linebacker.
Stewart received his business degree (1990) and history education degrees (1992) from Western State and his master's degree from Northern Colorado in 1995.
Stewart and his wife Linda have been married for 14 years and have two children, Amber and Nick, and a granddaughter, Hailey.
