New Coach Named

Brian Stewart Named Harding's Offensive Line Coach
Stewart spent the last seven seasons at Jackson Christian.
by Scott Goode

SEARCY – Harding head football coach Ronnie Huckeba announced the hiring of Brian Stewart as the Bison football team’s new offensive line coach. Stewart replaces Tim Perry, who resigned to take the head coaching position at Nashville (Ark.) High School.

“Coach Stewart is a high-energy coach that will have a tremendous impact on our team,” said Huckeba. “He is a strong spiritual leader and a passionate football coach. He will be an excellent role model for our young men as we continue to strive to honor God in every aspect of our football program.”

Stewart comes to Harding from Jackson (Tenn.) Christian School where he served as the head football coach and athletic director. Stewart began at Jackson Christian in 2003 as the head baseball coach and assistant football coach. He became the head football coach in 2006 and led the Eagles to a Tennessee Class 1A state championship, earning District 15A Coach of the Year, West Tennessee Football Coach of the Year and Tennessee Sportswriters Coach of the Year honors. The school moved to 2A in 2007, and Stewart’s squad earned a playoff berth and was a state quarterfinalist in 2008.

In 2002 and 2003, Stewart worked at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., where he was the school’s assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to that, Stewart worked six years at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tenn., from 1996-2002, coaching football, basketball and baseball. In 1995-96, he was an assistant baseball coach at Freed-Hardeman University.

In his football coaching career, Stewart has been part of eight regional championships and one state championship.

Stewart, 37, graduated from Freed-Hardeman in 1994 with a degree in social/behavioral sciences. In 2006, he added a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Freed-Hardeman.

Stewart and his wife Sandy have two children—Madelynn (6) and Maci (5).