Kentucky football assistant Anwar Stewart receives contract extension

Kentucky defensive line coach Anwar Stewart is signed on for another season in the Bluegrass.

Stewart recently signed a contract extension, keeping him on Mark Stoops’ staff through June of 2023. He will earn $325,000 during his third year as Kentucky’s defensive line coach. He received the standard $25,000 raise from last season.

Stewart’s second stint on Stoops’ coaching staff, he was a graduate assistant in 2017-18. He spent one season at Appalachian State before returning to his Old Kentucky Home. A former Wildcat, he starred on the UK defensive line from 1996-99. Forever cemented into UK lore, Stewart returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a score against Alabama in 1997. It sent the game into overtime, setting up “Couch to Yeast” to secure Kentucky’s first win over the Crimson Tide in 75 years.

A New-Look Defensive Line for Stewart

It’s an important season for Anwar Stewart. During his first two years he helped three Wildcats — Phil Hoskins, Quinton Bohanna and Josh Paschal — hear their names called in the NFL Draft. Now he must reassemble Kentucky’s defensive line.

Fortunately, Stewart has talented pieces to play with in 2022. It’s time to shine for the heralded defensive line recruiting class from 2020. Justin Rogers, Josaih Hayes, Octavious Oxendine and Tre’vonn Rybka were all four-star prospects, now entering year three in Lexington with some reps under their belt. Ox is healthy, prepared to be a difference-maker in the pass rush. The Cats also added former top 150 prospect Darrion Henry-Young, an Ohio State transfer, to contribute to UK’s pass rushing efforts.

There will surely be a few growing pains with this inexperienced unit. If Stewart can log some recruiting wins and maximize the potential for this talented group, another contract extension may be on the horizon next summer for the former Wildcat.