Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Football
Brian Stewart
- Title:
- Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
- Phone:
- 615-898-2926
Updated January 2025
Brian Stewart, a veteran with over 30 years coaching experience at the collegiate and professional ranks, is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff. Stewart has the title of assistant head coach/defensive coordinator while also handling the safeties position.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, asst. head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Dec. 11, 2023
• Under his tutelage, safety Xavier Williams moved from QB in mid-season to lead the Blue Raiders in tackles and earn honorable mention all-league honors
At Houston Roughnecks (XFL), defensive coordinator, 2023
• Team ranked No. 1 in the XFL in total defense, No. 1 in sacks, tied for first in defensive touchdowns and No. 2 in interceptions
At Maryland, Defensive Coordinator, 2021
• Helped lead team to the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl championship
• Defense recorded one shutout
At Baylor, cornerbacks, 2020
• Helped lead a Baylor defense that ranked second in the Big 12 allowing only 203.0 passing yards per game while also ranking second with 12 interceptions
• CB Raleigh Texada earned All-Big 12 honors
At Detroit Lions, defensive backs, 2018-19
• Spent two seasons on Matt Patricia’s staff
• Under his leadership, Darius Slay reached consecutive pro bowls and had at least two interceptions in each season while totaling 30 passes defended
• In 2018, Quandre Diggs was the only DB to have at least 75 tackles, three interceptions, three TFLs and a pick-six.
At Rice, defensive coordinator/interim head coach, 2017
• Named the interim head coach on Nov. 28 for former head coach David Bailiff
• Installed a new 3-4 defensive scheme that provided immediate results as the Owls ranked among the NCAA leaders in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss
At Nebraska, defensive backs, 2015-16
• Coached three All-Big Ten and NFL players in safety Nate Gerry and cornerbacks Joshua Kalu and Chris Jones
At Maryland, defensive coordinator, 2012-14
• Oversaw a remarkable turnaround on defense where the unit was second in the ACC and 21st nationally in total defense
• The 2012 unit also held five of their opponents under 100 rushing yards, something that only happened once in 2011
• DL Joe Vellano earned first team All-ACC honors while LB Demetrius Hartsfield garnered second team recognition
• His 2013 defense finished with 37 sacks, the highest Maryland single-season total since 2002 and ranked 18th nationally
• In 2014, DB William Likely earned first team All-Big Ten honors after tying for the conference lead with six interceptions and 15 pass breakups
• Maryland all-time sacks leader Andre Monroe excelled under Stewart in 2013-14, posting 20 sacks those two seasons
At Houston, defensive coordinator, 2010-11
• In 2011 he helped lead Houston to a 13-1 record and a No. 14 national ranking
• Defense ranked in the top 15 nationally in red zone scoring, interceptions, tackles for loss, takeaways and opponent completion percentage
• CB DJ Hayden was the 2011 CUSA Defensive Newcomer of the Year
At Philadelphia Eagles, defensive backs, 2009
• Helped Andy Reid’s staff to the NFC Playoffs
• Coached the NFL’s top interception duo in Asante Samuel (9) and Sheldon Brown (5)
• Coached three pro bowl defensive backs in Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown and Quintin Mikell
At Dallas Cowboys, defensive coordinator, 2007-08
• In both seasons, Stewart’s defense ranked in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed
• Team went 13-3 and won a division title in 2007
• The 2007 defense had an NFL-best five defensive players named to the pro bowl
• Defense ranked 9th in total defense in 2007 and was 8th in 2008
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 1992-93: Cal Poly (assistant)
• 1994-95: Northern Arizona (assistant)
• 1997-98: San Jose State (assistant)
• 1999-2000: Missouri (assistant)
• 2001: Syracuse (assistant)
• 2002-03: Houston Texans (assistant)
• 2004-06: San Diego Chargers (defensive backs)
• 2007-08: Dallas Cowboys (defensive coordinator)
• 2009: Philadelphia Eagles (defensive backs)
• 2010-11: Houston (defensive coordinator)
• 2012-14: Maryland (defensive coordinator)
• 2015-16: Nebraska (defensive backs)
• 2017: Rice (defensive coordinator/interim head coach)
• 2018-19: Detroit Lions (defensive backs)
• 2020: Baylor (cornerbacks)
• 2021: Maryland (defensive coordinator)
• 2023: Houston Roughnecks (defensive coordinator)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (asst. head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties)
Personal
• Hometown: West Covina, CA
• Wife: Kimberly
• Children: Leila, Mya and Zara
Education
• High School: Nogales (La Puente, CA)
• College: Northern Arizona, B.S. in Criminal Justice, 1995
Playing Experience (CB)
• Santa Monica City College (1984-85)
• Northern Arizona (1986-87)
Bowl Experience
• 2001: Insight.com Bowl (coach)
• 2012: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2013: Military Bowl (coach)
• 2014: Foster Farms Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Foster Farms Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Music City Bowl (coach)
• 2021: Pinstripe Bowl (coach)
Brian Stewart, a veteran with over 30 years coaching experience at the collegiate and professional ranks, is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff. Stewart has the title of assistant head coach/defensive coordinator while also handling the safeties position.
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, asst. head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties, 2024-present
• Date Hired: Dec. 11, 2023
• Under his tutelage, safety Xavier Williams moved from QB in mid-season to lead the Blue Raiders in tackles and earn honorable mention all-league honors
At Houston Roughnecks (XFL), defensive coordinator, 2023
• Team ranked No. 1 in the XFL in total defense, No. 1 in sacks, tied for first in defensive touchdowns and No. 2 in interceptions
At Maryland, Defensive Coordinator, 2021
• Helped lead team to the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl championship
• Defense recorded one shutout
At Baylor, cornerbacks, 2020
• Helped lead a Baylor defense that ranked second in the Big 12 allowing only 203.0 passing yards per game while also ranking second with 12 interceptions
• CB Raleigh Texada earned All-Big 12 honors
At Detroit Lions, defensive backs, 2018-19
• Spent two seasons on Matt Patricia’s staff
• Under his leadership, Darius Slay reached consecutive pro bowls and had at least two interceptions in each season while totaling 30 passes defended
• In 2018, Quandre Diggs was the only DB to have at least 75 tackles, three interceptions, three TFLs and a pick-six.
At Rice, defensive coordinator/interim head coach, 2017
• Named the interim head coach on Nov. 28 for former head coach David Bailiff
• Installed a new 3-4 defensive scheme that provided immediate results as the Owls ranked among the NCAA leaders in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss
At Nebraska, defensive backs, 2015-16
• Coached three All-Big Ten and NFL players in safety Nate Gerry and cornerbacks Joshua Kalu and Chris Jones
At Maryland, defensive coordinator, 2012-14
• Oversaw a remarkable turnaround on defense where the unit was second in the ACC and 21st nationally in total defense
• The 2012 unit also held five of their opponents under 100 rushing yards, something that only happened once in 2011
• DL Joe Vellano earned first team All-ACC honors while LB Demetrius Hartsfield garnered second team recognition
• His 2013 defense finished with 37 sacks, the highest Maryland single-season total since 2002 and ranked 18th nationally
• In 2014, DB William Likely earned first team All-Big Ten honors after tying for the conference lead with six interceptions and 15 pass breakups
• Maryland all-time sacks leader Andre Monroe excelled under Stewart in 2013-14, posting 20 sacks those two seasons
At Houston, defensive coordinator, 2010-11
• In 2011 he helped lead Houston to a 13-1 record and a No. 14 national ranking
• Defense ranked in the top 15 nationally in red zone scoring, interceptions, tackles for loss, takeaways and opponent completion percentage
• CB DJ Hayden was the 2011 CUSA Defensive Newcomer of the Year
At Philadelphia Eagles, defensive backs, 2009
• Helped Andy Reid’s staff to the NFC Playoffs
• Coached the NFL’s top interception duo in Asante Samuel (9) and Sheldon Brown (5)
• Coached three pro bowl defensive backs in Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown and Quintin Mikell
At Dallas Cowboys, defensive coordinator, 2007-08
• In both seasons, Stewart’s defense ranked in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed
• Team went 13-3 and won a division title in 2007
• The 2007 defense had an NFL-best five defensive players named to the pro bowl
• Defense ranked 9th in total defense in 2007 and was 8th in 2008
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 1992-93: Cal Poly (assistant)
• 1994-95: Northern Arizona (assistant)
• 1997-98: San Jose State (assistant)
• 1999-2000: Missouri (assistant)
• 2001: Syracuse (assistant)
• 2002-03: Houston Texans (assistant)
• 2004-06: San Diego Chargers (defensive backs)
• 2007-08: Dallas Cowboys (defensive coordinator)
• 2009: Philadelphia Eagles (defensive backs)
• 2010-11: Houston (defensive coordinator)
• 2012-14: Maryland (defensive coordinator)
• 2015-16: Nebraska (defensive backs)
• 2017: Rice (defensive coordinator/interim head coach)
• 2018-19: Detroit Lions (defensive backs)
• 2020: Baylor (cornerbacks)
• 2021: Maryland (defensive coordinator)
• 2023: Houston Roughnecks (defensive coordinator)
• 2024-Present: Middle Tennessee (asst. head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties)
Personal
• Hometown: West Covina, CA
• Wife: Kimberly
• Children: Leila, Mya and Zara
Education
• High School: Nogales (La Puente, CA)
• College: Northern Arizona, B.S. in Criminal Justice, 1995
Playing Experience (CB)
• Santa Monica City College (1984-85)
• Northern Arizona (1986-87)
Bowl Experience
• 2001: Insight.com Bowl (coach)
• 2012: Cotton Bowl (coach)
• 2013: Military Bowl (coach)
• 2014: Foster Farms Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Foster Farms Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Music City Bowl (coach)
• 2021: Pinstripe Bowl (coach)
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