Happy homecoming: Kevin Stewart introduced as Free State’s football coach

Newly named football coach Kevin Stewart speaks to the Firebirds during a team meeting Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, at the Free State High School Auditorium.

Kevin Stewart knows it is no easy task to follow in the footsteps of the only head football coach Free State has ever known.

Stewart, who introduced himself to the FSHS football team as the program’s next head coach Wednesday afternoon, made it clear that there is no replacing someone like Bob Lisher. After all, Lisher compiled an 148-85 record in 22 seasons at Free State.

But Stewart also recalled hearing a similar sentiment by Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self about replacing Roy Williams in 2003. And that message has stuck with him ever since.

“I remember (Self) saying he talked to his dad, and his dad was like, ‘If you can’t follow a legend, then you don’t deserve the job anyway,'” Stewart said. “I feel the same way. This is a great opportunity. I can’t worry about following a legend, I have to come in here and do my best. I have to work hard everyday and build relationships. We will be successful if we do the right thing.”

This will be the first time Stewart has ever been a head football coach, though he feels prepared to be at the helm.

Stewart, 30, previously served as an assistant for Blue Valley North over the last three seasons. During his two years as defensive coordinator, Blue Valley North won a 6A state title in 2017 and finished as a runner-up in 2018.

In addition, Stewart also had stops as an assistant football coach at Wichita Northwest (2015-16), McLouth (2008-12, 2013-15) and Lyndon (2012). He’s managed to find success at nearly every stop in his coaching career, which began at 19 years old when he was a student at the University of Kansas.

“What I’m most excited about this past week is the former players and coaches reaching out to me to say congratulations,” Stewart said. “I told the guys that, each day, you get busy with your work and you tend to forget about the big picture and all the people who helped you out. That’s been a real joy the last couple days.”

Newly named football coach Kevin Stewart speaks to the Firebirds during a team meeting January 16 at the Free State high school autotorium.

Stewart was ready for his first shot at being a head football coach, and FSHS was the ideal situation for multiple reasons.

Stewart played at McLouth at the high school level, and was even named the Journal-World player of the year in 2005. He eventually went on to play collegiate football at Pittsburg State before transferring to Ottawa University.

Growing up, Stewart played peewee football for the Lawrence Trojans. He attended basketball camps in Lawrence, and saw his fair share of city showdowns, as well.

“This is my community, and I feel like it is my hometown,” Stewart said. “The second appeal is how competitive the program is. Coach Lisher has done an outstanding job at Free State. It is not a program that I have to come in and rebuild. It is a program that I just need to continue the success that he had.”

As a result, Stewart has high expectations in his first year with the Firebirds.

Stewart hopes to incorporate more passing game concepts in his spread offense. This past season, Blue Valley North quarterback Graham Mertz, a Wisconsin signee, threw for 3,886 yards and 51 touchdowns in his senior season.

On defense, Stewart plans to use a 3-4 swarm defense and disguise coverages and blitzes.

In the end, though, Stewart understands the program’s success will come down to what the players do on the field. Fortunately for Stewart, he’s at a place that has become all too familiar with sustaining a high level of success on the gridiron.

“It is a transition year, but we can only use that excuse for so long,” Stewart said. “Beginning of March, we are hopefully hitting the ground running.”

COMMENTS

Welcome to the new LJWorld.com. Our old commenting system has been replaced with Facebook Comments. There is no longer a separate username and password login step. If you are already signed into Facebook within your browser, you will be able to comment. If you do not have a Facebook account and do not wish to create one, you will not be able to comment on stories.