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Victory Earns Stewart WVU Job

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The Associated Press

Published: January 4, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Bill Stewart didn't need an actual job interview. His performance in the 2 1/2 weeks since Rich Rodriguez resigned, punctuated by West Virginia's resounding victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, was enough.

Now he's the coach of the Mountaineers, a promotion for a man who calls himself a "West Virginian all my life."

"I had the longest job interview in America," Stewart joked Thursday, hours after the 48-28 victory over the Sooners and before the team boarded a flight home.

The 55-year-old coach agreed to a five-year contract worth $800,000 a year, plus incentives. The base salary totals $4 million, the same amount West Virginia is seeking in a buyout of the seven-year contract, worth almost $2 million a year, that Rodriguez signed in August.

Stewart was appointed interim coach when Rodriguez left Dec. 16 to coach Michigan. West Virginia formed a search committee that, according to Athletic Director Ed Pastilong, interviewed "a large number of candidates." But the committee had its eyes on Stewart all along.

"In reality, he was being interviewed every day," said Pastilong, who has known Stewart for nearly four decades. "I heard somebody say that Wednesday night he had the ultimate interview. But he always was one of our most serious candidates."

Stewart had the backing of the team, including Pat White. The quarterback began stumping for Stewart on the field after running for 150 yards and throwing for 176 and two touchdowns in the victory over the No. 3 Sooners.

"He deserves it," White said. "A great man. A great coach."

LOUISVILLE: Former Duke coach Ted Roof was hired as a Louisville football assistant, more than five weeks after he was fired by the Blue Devils.

Roof replaces Reggie Johnson and will work with linebackers under Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe, who is shaking up his staff after a 6-6 season.

Louisville also announced the hiring of former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English. English said Monday he had accepted the same position with the Cardinals.

MIAMI: Confirming what had been expected for weeks, Hurricanes defensive end Calais Campbell said Thursday that he is skipping his senior season and entering the NFL draft.

Campbell is one of two Miami players to leave early so far: safety Kenny Phillips also won't be back for his final year of eligibility. Both are projected to be first-round selections on most mock NFL draft boards.

The 6-foot-8, 280-pound Campbell had six sacks this season for the Hurricanes. For his career, he finished with 169 tackles, 38 1/2 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and six forced fumbles.

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