AJ Steward
Running backs Coach
Phone
(801) 422-2916
Office
SAB 220


Responsibilities

Running backs coach

Years at BYU

  • 2018-2019 seasons (Running backs coach) 

Education

  • Kansas (B.S. in health and physical education, 2012)

Years Overall Coaching

2012-present

Coaching Experience

  • BYU, Running backs (2018-2019) (named RB coach at Arizona on Feb. 14, 2020)
  • Rice
    • Running backs (2014-2017)
    • Graduate assistant (2012-13)

Coaching Career Highlights

  • Successfully managed a number of key injuries to running backs to provide a productive running attack during his two years at BYU.
  • In 2019, Steward helped bring graduate transfers Ty’Son Williams from South Carolina and Emmanuel Esukpa from Rice to Provo to complement other young, talented BYU runners. Williams rushed for 264 yards over the first three-plus games, which included wins at Tennessee and over No. 24 USC, before a season-ending injury in the fourth game. As a group, BYU ran for more than 2,000 yards for the first time since 2016 led by redshirt freshman Sione Finau’s 359 yards before his season-ending injury, while redshirt sophomore Lopini Katoa had 358 yards while missing a game and true freshman Jackson McChesney added 274 yards, with 228 coming against UMass in a single game, the sixth-most in a single game in school history. Esukpa was hampered by injuries all year and finished with 190. The committee effort still yielded 4.4 yards per carry and 25 total touchdowns.
  • In 2018, redshirt freshman Lopini Katoa and senior Squally Canada led the team with 423 and 412 yards, respectively, but both players missed games due to injury. With the injuries, senior Matt Hadley moved from linebacker to running back during the year and added 383 yards, while junior Riley Burt contributed 323 yards on the ground. Katoa (5.6), Burt (5.5) and Hadley (5.3) all averaged more than five yards per carry among BYU’s regular ball carriers, while Katoa led the team with eight rushing touchdowns and Hadley added six. Eight players scored a rushing touchdown on the year.
  • In 2017, Steward helped the Rice ground game average 187.0 yards per game, ranking No. 2 in Conference USA and No. 38 nationally
  • Nahshon Ellerbe and Austin Walter combined for 10 rushing touchdowns and 5.3 yards per carry in 2017
  • From 2013-16, Owl running backs Darik Dillard and Jowan Davis finished No. 7 and No. 8 career rushing yards at Rice, respectively
  • Dillard and Davis combined for 4,226 yards and 36 touchdowns in their career working with Steward
  • In 2015, Steward had four running backs eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in different games for the first time in school history
  • Samuel Stewart and Austin Walter were named to the C-USA All-Freshman team in 2015
  • In Steward's first year as a full-time coach, Rice finished 8-5 and beat Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl
  • As a GA in 2013, Steward helped Charles Ross lead C-USA in rushing with 1,280 yards and 15 touchdowns

Playing Career

  • Played in 37 games at Kansas from 2008-2011
  • Originally recruited as a quarterback, Steward switched to wide receiver before finding a home at tight end
  • Served as the scout team quarterback for the 2007 squad when he Jayhawks went 12-1 and won the 2008 Orange Bowl
  • Earned the Otto Schnellenbacher Scout Team Player of the Year award in 2007
  • A four-time member of the athletic director's honor roll at Kansas

Hometown

  • St. Louis, Missouri

Personal/Family

  • Married to Virginia Durham
BYU Hall of Fame