Former WVU Coach Stewart Passes Away Following Heart Attack
By Jeff Toquinto on May 21, 2012 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
According to Tim Brady, the executive director of the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau, West Virginia University Coach Bill Stewart was taken from Stonewall Resort in Lewis County by ambulance due to what appears to have been a massive heart attack. WVU sources confirmed he has passed away. Michael Fragale, who is with WVU's athletic and sports information department, confirmed it as well, while the University also released an official statement.
The 59-year-old Stewart was golfing at the resort when the incident occurred. He was participating in the same tournament that Brady was particpating in this morning and afternoon.
Metronews is now reporting that he was with former Athletic Director Eddie Pastilong and suffered a massive heart attack. He was taken to Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital where he eventually was declared dead.
Stewart would have been 60 years old in June. His career began with West Virginia University in 2000, where he served as an assistant to Rich Rodriguez. He was named interim head coach in 2007 after Rich Rodriguez departed for Michigan, and then was elevated to head coach in January, 2008, after a stunning victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl win ranks as one of the greatest in WVU's football history. Stewart coached three years for WVU and finished with a 27-12 record, or 28-12 which includes the Fiesta Bowl win. He was 9-4 in all three season and in his first year not coaching served as a college football analyst for ESPN this past year.
Stewart resigned as head coach in June 2011. The resignation came following issues with current WVU athletic director Oliver Luck over the hiring of Dana Holgorsen as the head-coach-in-waiting. Stewart was to step down following the 2011 season, but resigned before it began.
