Anwar Stewart set to be UK’s new defensive line coach, per report

The Kentucky Wildcats have at least two coaching positions to fill in the coming weeks.

Over the last month, special teams coordinator Dean Hood and defensive line coach Derrick Leblanc have left for other jobs, and it sounds like Leblanc’s replacement is close to being finalized.

According to Jon Hale of the Louisville Courier Journal, former Wildcat Anwar Stewart is favored to become the school’s new defensive line coach:

Former UK player Anwar Stewart, who worked on Stoops’ UK staff while finishing his degree during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, is the favorite to replace Derrick LeBlanc as the Wildcats’ defensive line coach, a source with knowledge of the hiring process told The Courier Journal. The move is pending formal background checks.

Stewart played at UK from 1996-99, then enjoyed a 13-year career in the CFL. During a 13-year playing career in the CFL, Stewart won a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders in 2001, then helped Montreal win Grey Cups in 2002, 2009 and 2010. Playing defensive end, he was selected the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2004 and was a CFL All-Star in both 2004 and 2009.

After his playing days were over, Stewart broke into the coaching ranks as a CFL assistant from 2014-16 with stints coaching quarterbacks, defensive ends, and the defensive line.

Stewart then came to UK to work under Mark Stoops as a graduate assistant from 2017-18, then became the defensive line coach at Appalachian State in 2019, where he currently serves.

Kentucky Wildcats TV actually did a feature on Stewart when he returned to finish his degree at UK:

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