Kentucky Football Retains Anwar Stewart as Defensive Line Coach

University of Kentucky head coach Will Stein has announced he will retain Anwar Stewart as the defensive line coach.

Stewart will enter his seventh season as the defensive line coach at Kentucky after returning to the Bluegrass in 2020, but it is his ninth season altogether as a coach at Kentucky.

“Retaining Anwar Stewart as our defensive line coach was one of my main priorities when I took the job,” Stein said. “His reputation as one of the top defensive line coaches in the country speaks for itself. He’s an excellent coach and developer of young men, and I’m excited he’s going to continue helping our players reach their full potential.”

Stewart is quite familiar with the UK football program after playing linebacker / defensive end from 1996-99 under head coaches Bill Curry and Hal Mumme and having served as a student assistant and defensive assistant under Mark Stoops in 2017 and 2018. He helped UK advance to two bowl games and was an integral part of its 10-3 season in 2018, as he assisted with the development and success of Josh Hines-Allen, winner of three National Defensive Player of the Year Awards (Nagurski, Lott, Bednarik), unanimous All-America First Team selection and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building here at Kentucky,” Stewart said. “This program means a lot to me, and I believe strongly in the vision Coach Stein has for where we’re headed. I’m excited to keep developing our defensive line and doing everything I can to help this team compete at the highest level.”

Over Stewart’s combined eight seasons in Lexington, Kentucky, the program has benefited greatly from his defensive direction, while he has been instrumental in helping it earn four top-five finishes in the SEC, three top-25 finishes in the nation and one top-15 finish in the nation in total defense during that time.

Since his arrival as the defensive line coach in 2020, Stewart has coached four players who were selected in the NFL Draft:  nose guard Quinton Bohanna (2021), defensive end Phil Hoskins (2021), defensive end Joshual Paschal (2022) and defensive tackle Deone Walker (2025).

Stewart has built a reputation as one of the program’s top position developers. Despite losing two starters going into 2025, he blended established returners and fresh faces from the transfer portal such as Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace and David Gusta. Humphrey-Grace, a transfer from South Dakota, totaled 31 tackles, and tied for the team-high with 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. He added two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

In 2024, following a season that ended ranked sixth in the nation in red zone defense (70.8 percent), 12th in the nation in first down defense (215) and 21st in the nation in fewest passing yards allowed (183.7), Stewart saw Deone Walker get selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills. He also was named Second Team All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press after totaling 37 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Moreover, a testament to Stewart’s influence beyond the field, he also saw defensive lineman Tre’vonn Rybka earn the “Big Ambassador of the Year” award by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass for his extensive work with the organization.

Before that, the Wildcats boasted a season where they produced the best rush defense in the Mark Stoops era in 2023, holding opponents to 113.1 yards per game, which ranked second in the conference and 17th in the nation. In fact, the Cats held each of their first five opponents of the season to under 100 yards rushing for the first time in program history, based on game-by-game stats available since the 1940s. Stewart’s defensive line also contributed to finishing top five in the conference and top 25 in the nation in team sacks (2.69/game) and tackles for loss (6.5/game) in 2023.

Stewart’s knack for recruiting and developing was especially evident in 2022, when he helped lead a defensive unit that checked in at 11th in the nation and second in the SEC in total defense to end the season, holding opponents to just 311.4 yards per game. Stewart’s defensive line finished the season ranked 22nd in the nation and third in the SEC in 3rd-down conversion defense and 19th in the nation and third in the SEC in 4th-down conversion defense. That defensive line included Octavious Oxendine, who was named to the Comeback Player of the Year Watch List, and Walker, a decorated Freshman All-American.

Stewart’s progressive success in the Bluegrass started during his first season in 2020, coaching Bohanna to an All-SEC Second Team selection by PFF and All-SEC Fourth Team choice by Phil Steele. Additionally, Paschal was also an All-SEC Fourth Team choice by Phil Steele and an All-SEC Honorable Mention selection by PFF. Both Bohanna and Paschal are currently playing in the NFL. Bohanna is with the Green Bay Packers, while Paschal is playing with the Detroit Lions.

Prior to coaching, Stewart honed his defensive skills in the Canadian Football League, spending 13 years in the professional ranks, 11 with the Montreal Alouettes and two with the Calgary Stampeders. He won a Grey Cup championship with Calgary in 2001 and helped Montreal capture Grey Cups in 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Playing defensive end, he was selected the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2004 and was a CFL All-Star in both 2004 and 2009. He retired in 2013 after racking up 70 career quarterback sacks, including 66 with Montreal. He also snagged 10 career interceptions from his defensive end position. He retired as Montreal’s all-time sack leader and still ranks second in team history in career sacks.

After retirement, Stewart was hired by the Alouettes in 2014 as a defensive quality control coach before being elevated to defensive ends coach in 2015 and defensive line coach in 2016. The Alouettes were among the CFL’s best teams in total defense and sacks each of those seasons.

During his playing days at Kentucky, the Panama City, Florida, native totaled 64 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and eight sacks, playing both linebacker and defensive end. Many of the Big Blue Nation will remember perhaps his greatest play when he returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a touchdown against Alabama in 1997, helping send the game into overtime in the Wildcats’ dramatic victory over the Crimson Tide.

Stewart graduated with a degree in social work from UK in 2017. He and his wife, Lamya, have a daughter, Kayla. 

Anwar Stewart’s Coaching Career

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