Nebraska Football: Everything You Need to Know About Brian Stewart

Nebraska football fans, say hello to Brian Stewart. During a Tuesday announcement from head coach Mike Riley, the former Maryland defensive coordinator was officially named the Huskers' new secondary coach.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Nebraska football program,” Stewart said. “The opportunity to coach at Nebraska is awesome. My first impression is ‘wow.’ From the weight room to walking down the hallway and seeing the national-championship trophies, Nebraska is what you think it is...a football powerhouse.” 

Fans are now anxious to get to know Stewart. After all, former secondary coach Charlton Warren left big shoes to fill. However, it seems like Stewart will have no problems filling them.

“He’s for real,” former Huskers linebacker Jay Foreman told Rich Kaipust of the Omaha World-Herald. “He has high-quality character. I like him. He’s really charismatic. He has all you need."

Foreman would know, too. He played for Stewart when he was with the Texans in 2002 and 2003. Stewart was Houston's defensive backs coach at the time.

In addition to his time with the Texans, Stewart has also coached for other NFL teams, such as the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He's coached plenty of teams at the collegiate level, as well.

So, what exactly brought Stewart to Nebraska? The answer is a simple one: Riley.

“The most important thing for me in my coaching career is my family," Stewart said. "Coach Riley and his staff have been together so long, and you can just see the loyalty and trust. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

As for Riley, he believes Stewart will bring a lot to the table for the Huskers.

“Brian Stewart brings a record of success in both the collegiate and professional ranks and will be a great fit at the University of Nebraska,” Riley said. “He has experience coaching and recruiting in all parts of the country, most recently with experience in the Big Ten Conference. We look forward to Brian getting started with our defensive staff and our secondary.”

While it was disappointing to lose Warren after only one year, fans have to be excited about Riley hiring Stewart. After all, it sounds like Stewart wants to stick around for awhile, which is something Nebraska has struggled to do with secondary coaches.

“The quality of life that [Riley] shares with his coaches is second to none,” Stewart said, via Kaipust. “His defensive coordinator has been with him for 14 years. His staff stays with him. And that says more about the head coach than it does about the guys.

“You want loyalty? Be loyal. You want trust? Be trustworthy. I thought that was awesome.”

Beyond loyalty, Stewart has experience. Foreman told Kaipust that “there’s not a defense that he hasn’t run." Considering the Huskers allowed more passing plays of 20 or more yards than any other Big Ten team last season, per NBC Sports, Stewart's experience and knowledge will be beneficial.

As for recruiting, Stewart will be tasked with finding talent in Georgia and Florida, as Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star reported. It shouldn't be an issue because, as Riley said in his statement, Stewart has experience recruiting all across the country.

Stewart is already settling in with the Huskers. In doing so, he hopes to show the veteran players that he'll be there, per Christopherson:

"

I think kids are resilient. They really want to trust you. But I think you can show them better than you can tell them. All I've been doing is let them know, 'I'm here right now. This is how we're going to play. We're going to have fun. We're going to get a group identity and be that. ... We're going to play fast, play hard, and be excited about what we put on tape. And after awhile, the longer I'm here, the more they'll be my sons. … But I've got to show them. I think as a coach, you just got to be consistent and just be present.

"

And that's what Nebraska fans can take away from Stewart. He's a coach with plenty of experience who plans to just be there.

There will be plenty left to learn about Stewart. However, as of now, that's all Huskers fans need to know.

 

All quotes via Huskers.com, unless otherwise noted.