The long wait for the BYU Cougars to name its 10th assistant coach is over. AJ Steward has been announced as running backs coach.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said, "AJ is known as an excellent recruiter and for his ability to develop players. He has done great things as a running backs coach and brings unique experience from an outstanding academic school, which helps him understand one of the important focuses we have here at BYU. I'm excited to welcome AJ to our coaching staff."
Steward's entire coaching career has been at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He was a graduate assistant for two years, and a position coach for four. He played college football for Kansas from 2008-11 as a tight end. He redshirted the 2007 season when Kanas won a BCS bowl.
Said Steward of this opportunity, "My wife and I are tremendously excited and are blessed to join the BYU football family. I am grateful for Coach Sitake, Tom Holmoe, President Worthen and Coach Grimes for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity to come to Provo and be part of the rich football tradition at BYU. I sincerely look forward to not only making a difference on the field, but also making a life-long impact on the young men in the program."
Rice averaged at least 167 yards rushing per game each of Steward's four seasons as running backs coach. The past two seasons, each of Rice's top three rushers have averaged 4.8 yards per carry or better.
Steward inherits a deep stable of running backs at BYU that includes Squally Canada, Ula Tolutau, Austin Kafentzis, Riley Burt, and KJ Hall. Depending on how the quarterback situation settles out, the running back corps could be the group that BYU turns to for the bulk of its offensive production in 2018.
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