Brian Stewart

Brian Stewart brings an extensive background as a secondary coach to the Nebraska staff. He will focus on the cornerbacks in 2016, after handling the entire secondary in his first season at Nebraska. Stewart also has defensive coordinator experience at both the college and professional levels.

In his first season in Lincoln, Stewart coached an NU secondary that continued to improve throughout the season. The secondary had seven different starters in 2015, including 23 starts from freshmen or sophomores. Safety Nate Gerry led the Huskers in tackles and interceptions and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors, while cornerback Joshua Kalu was an honorable-mention all-conference pick.

Stewart joined the Nebraska staff after three seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Maryland.  His stop at Maryland continued an impressive coaching resume that includes seven years as a defensive coordinator—five years in college football and two in the National Football League. Stewart also has 15 years of tutoring defensive backs on his coaching resume.

In his three seasons on the Maryland staff, Stewart helped the Terrapins to a pair of bowl appearances. The attacking Terrapin defense tallied more than 30 sacks each of the past two seasons.

Defensive back Will Likely was a standout under Stewart’s guidance, leading the Big Ten in interceptions in 2014 en route to first-team all-conference honors. In Stewart’s first year at Maryland in 2012, his defense finished in the top three in the ACC in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense and was 21^st nationally in total defense.

Stewart re-joined the college ranks as the defensive coordinator at the University of Houston in 2010 and 2011. Stewart’s stingy defense played a key role in the Cougars’ 13-1 record and No. 14 final national ranking in 2011.

He spent the previous eight years in the NFL, including a two-year stint as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. As the Cowboys’ defense coordinator, Stewart guided Dallas to two top-10 rankings in fewest yards allowed. He helped the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and NFC East divisional title in 2007.

Stewart also served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles (2009), San Diego Chargers (2004-06) and the Houston Texas (2002-03). Each of the teams Stewart coached in his final six NFL seasons won at least nine games, including three division champions and four playoff teams. During his time in the NFL, Stewart helped 14 players make Pro Bowl appearances.

Before his stint in the National Football League, Stewart had college assistant coaching stops at Syracuse, Missouri, San Jose State, Northern Arizona and Cal Poly. A California native, Stewart played defensive back at Santa Monica City College and Northern Arizona.

Stewart serves as the president of the Urban Football Coaches Association, conducting an annual coaches’ clinic in Los Angeles. Stewart graduated from Nogales High School in La Puente, Calif., and remains active there, conducting a free youth football camp there.

Stewart Profile      
Coaching Experience
2016: Nebraska, Assistant Coach (Cornerbacks)
2015: Nebraska, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
2012-14: Maryland, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2010-11: Houston, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2009: Philadelphia Eagles, Assistant Coach (Defensive Special Assistant)
2007-08: Dallas Cowboys, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator)
2004-06: San Diego Chargers, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
2002-03: Houston Texans, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs Assistant)
2001: Syracuse, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
1999-2000: Missouri, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
1997-98: San Jose State, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
1996: Missouri, Graduate Assistant Coach
1994-95: Northern Arizona, Assistant Coach (Tight Ends/Special Teams)
1992-93: Cal Poly, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers/Running Backs)

Playing Experience
1983: Northern Arizona (Defensive Back)
1984-85: Santa Monica City College (Defensive Back)
1986-87: Northern Arizona (Defensive Back)

Personal
Education: Northern Arizona, 1995, Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
Family: Wife, Kimberly; Daughters, Leila, Mya and Zara

Stewart Career Highlights

• Coached a pair of all-league players in 2015 at Nebraska in safety Nate Gerry and cornerback Joshua Kalu
• Helped Maryland rank among conference leaders in sacks in both 2013 and 2014 with 37 and 32 sacks, respectively
• Guided a 2012 Maryland defense that was in the top three in the ACC and top 35 nationally in total defense, rushing defense and passing defense
• Coordinated University of Houston defense in 2011 that ranked in the top 15 nationally in red zone scoring, interceptions, tackles for loss, takeaways and opponent completion percentage, helping Cougars to a 13-1 record
• Eight seasons of experience as an assistant in the National Football League, coaching 14 Pro Bowl players
• Coordinated the Dallas Cowboys defense in 2007 and 2008, helping the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and NFC East Division crown in 2007
• Helped Cowboys rank in the top three in the NFL in sacks both seasons, and saw an NFL-best five defenders make the Pro Bowl in 2007—DeMarcus Ware, Roy Williams, Greg Ellis, Ken Hamlin, Terrence Newman
• Served as Chargers’ secondary coach for three seasons, helping San Diego to two playoff appearances, including a 14-2 record in 2006
• Served on the coaching staff for the expansion Houston Texas in their first two seasons in 2002 and 2003
• Helped the 2001 Syracuse Orange to a 10-3 record and No. 14 final ranking as defensive backs coach