Bill Stewart, Former WVU Coach, Dies Of Apparent Heart Attack

Former West Virginia head football coach Bill Stewart died on Monday at the age of 59, the school announced in a press release.

"Former West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart has died this afternoon from an apparent heart attack. No further details are available at this time," the press release read.

Stewart, served on Rich Rodriguez's staff from the time Rodriguez was hired by West Virginia in 2000, and took over the Mountaineers head coaching job on December 16, 2007, after Rodriguez left West Virginia to take the job at Michigan. Stewart coached the Mountaineers to victory at the 2008 Fiesta Bowl over the Oklahoma Sooners, 48-28.

Stewart was officially named head coach on January 3, 2008, one day after the Fiesta Bowl victory. The next three seasons, the Mountaineers went 9-4 every year, 5-2 in the Big East, but only went 1-2 in bowl games. The lone bowl win was the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl, 31-30 over the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Stewart leaves behind his wife Karen and his son Blaine.