Rich Rodriguez Reflects on Bill Stewart - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Rich Rodriguez Reflects on Bill Stewart

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Former WVU Head Coach Bill Stewart's death reached one if his friends and former WVU and current Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez early Monday afternoon.

Rodriguez found out about the passing of Stewart while eating lunch with his wife.

It was a phone call he wouldn't forget.

"One of my former coach's wife called my wife to tell me Bill had a heart attack," Rodriguez said via a phone interview with WOWK's John Sabol.

"Five minutes later we received another phone call saying Bill past away. I couldn't believe it" Rodriguez said. "It's a sad day for West Virginia and more importantly, it's a said day for the Stewart family."

Stewart and Rodriguez coached together at West Virginia for seven seasons until Rodriguez left for Michigan in 2007.

The two were close during their time together and kept in contact over the last five years.

"We would see each other at events and talk football," Rodriguez added. "Bill loved football, especially Mountaineers football."

 Besides football, Rodriguez said there was one thing that Stewart loved more than anything, his family.

"I feel for Karen [wife] and Blaine [son] at this point," Rodriguez said. "Bill's pride and joy, and he would tell you was his family."

Stewart coached at WVU for three seasons and went 28-12.

He was 59 and is survived by his wife and son.