BYU football adds AJ Steward as running backs coach

PROVO, Utah (Feb. 6, 2018) – BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake today announced the hiring of AJ Steward as running backs coach on Jeff Grimes’ offensive staff.  

The addition of Steward, who comes to BYU from Rice University in Houston, finalizes the BYU coaching staff. Grimes, the offensive coordinator, will lead the offense with Aaron Roderick as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Fesi Sitake will serve as the wide receivers coach and Steve Clark will continue to coach the tight ends. Ryan Pugh will coach the offensive line with Steward as the running backs coach.

“AJ is known as an excellent recruiter and for his ability to develop players,” Sitake said. “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 joins the BYU staff with six years of coaching experience, including the past four seasons as the running backs coach at Rice after two seasons as a graduate assistant for the Owls.

“My wife and I are tremendously excited and are blessed to join the BYU football family,” Steward said. “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.

“I also want to express my appreciation to Coach David Bailiff and Rice University for such a great experience, which has granted me the opportunity to learn, build and grow into the coach that I am today.”

In 2017, the Rice ground game averaged 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 averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season.

From 2013-16, Owl running backs Darik Dillard and Jowan Davis both had productive careers under Steward’s tutelage. The two finished seventh and eighth in career rushing yards at Rice, respectively. The duo combined for 4,226 yards and 36 touchdowns.

During the 2015 season, Steward had four different running backs eclipse the 100-yard mark in different games throughout the season for the first time in school history. Samuel Stewart and Walter were both named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team that season.

In Steward’s first year leading the running backs in 2014, Rice finished 8-5 and knocked off Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl. The Dillard and Davis combo ran for 1,608 yards and 17 touchdowns that season. As a GA working with the running backs in 2013, Steward helped Charles Ross lead C-USA in rushing with 1,280 yards and 15 touchdowns. Ross went on to earn first-team all-conference honors.

Steward joined the Rice staff prior to the 2012 season as an offensive graduate assistant after playing college football at Kansas.

Originally recruited as a quarterback, Steward switched to wide receiver before finding a home at tight end, playing in 37 career games for the Jayhawks from 2008-11. As a redshirt on the 2007 squad, Steward served as the scout team quarterback for Kansas as the Jayhawks went 12-1, won the 2008 Orange Bowl and finished ranked No. 7 nationally. Steward was recognized for his efforts preparing Kansas’ No. 12-ranked defense with the Otto Schnellenbacher Scout Team Player of the Year honor. 

Steward, 28, was also a four-time member of the athletic director’s honor roll at Kansas, where he graduated with a degree in health and physical education in 2012. Steward, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, is married to Virginia Durham.