AnwarStewart

Former Wildcat Anwar Stewart was named the defensive line coach at Kentucky in January of 2020. He returned to the Bluegrass after one season as the defensive line coach at Appalachian State.

Stewart is quite familiar with the Kentucky 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 head coach Mark Stoops from 2017-18. He helped UK advance to two bowl games and was an integral part of the Wildcats’ 10-3 season in 2018 as he assisted with the development and success of Josh Allen – winner of three National Defensive Player of the Year Awards (Nagurski, Lott, Bednarik), unanimous first-team All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2020 under Stewart’s tutelage, nose guard Quinton Bohanna earned second-team All-SEC honors by PFF and was a fourth-team All-SEC choice by Phil Steele. Defensive end Josh Paschal was a fourth-team All-SEC choice by Phil Steele and an honorable mention All-SEC selection by PFF.

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 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 sacks, including 66 with Montreal (second-most in team history). He also snagged 10 career interceptions from his defensive end position. He still holds the Alouettes’ all-time record for career quarterback 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 UK’s dramatic victory over the Crimson Tide.

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

Stewart’s Coaching Career