NEW MARTINSVILLE – To many West Virginia Mountaineer football fans, Bill Stewart will be remembered as the head coach who engineered a 48-28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. In Stewart’s native New Martinsville, however, those remembering him used words like “father figure” and “Christian” to describe the 1970 Magnolia High School graduate. Stewart – who assumed control of the Mountaineers following former coach Rich Rodriguez’s hasty departure for the University of Michigan following the 2007 regular season – died of an apparent heat attack while playing golf Monday at Stonewall Jackson Resort in Roanoke, W.Va. He was 59. Article Photos Bill Stewart confers with a player during his tenure as coach of West Virginia University’s football team. The New Martinsville native died Monday of a heart attack. Stewart went 28-12 in three seasons after taking the helm before the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, but he resigned last summer to be replaced by Dana Holgorsen the same day. Stewart signed a six-year contract in September 2008, but Athletic Director Oliver Luck changed the agreement in 2010. Luck hired Holgorsen to serve as offensive coordinator and head coach-in-waiting, while Stewart was to serve his final season in 2011. Six months later, both Stewart and Holgorsen made unwanted headlines in the weeks leading up to the coaching change. This was due to an intoxicated Holgorsen being escorted out of the Mardi Gras West Virginia Casino and Hotel near Charleston, as well as allegations that Stewart had called a journalist to ask the reporter to “dig up dirt” on Holgorsen. However, this controversy seemed all but forgotten Monday, as New Martinsville residents joined WVU officials, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and elected leaders in remembering Stewart for a life they said was far too short. “He was the kind of man who was never ashamed to admit he was a Christian. He will be sorely missed,” New Martinsville Councilman Joel Potts said while eating at Quinet’s Court in New Martinsville. “He was an extremely kind man, the type of man you would love to see your son play for.” Potts pointed out some pictures of Stewart along the wall at the restaurant, as well as an autographed football helmet. Quinet’s even features a “Bill Stewart Special,” consisting of a half-pound of fried fish, french fries, cole slaw and a roll. “He was so proud of WVU and of West Virginia as a state. He helped put this town back on the map,” Potts continued. “And he was such a great father figure to so many of those young men who lack a father figure in their lives.” One of those who looked up to Stewart was former WVU running back Steve Slaton, who said, “Mountaineer Nation has lost one of its biggest fans.” “A true gentleman, friend, man, coach, teacher, husband, etc., is how I view coach Bill Stewart,” Slaton said. “I am honored to have had him as a friend and coach. I know every player that has had the opportunity to be around him would say the same.” Also eating at Quinet’s Monday was New Martinsville resident Bill Talkington, who fondly remembers Stewart. “I was a great fan of his,” Talkington said. “I took care of his guns at my gun shop. He was a great guy and a good friend.” Talkington expressed disappointment about how Stewart left WVU last year, noting he wished Luck had handled the situation differently. For his part, Luck acknowledged Stewart as a “rock-solid West Virginian and a true Mountaineer.” “His enthusiasm and passion for his state’s flagship university was infectious. We join all Mountaineers in mourning his passing,” Luck said of Stewart. Surprised and saddened to hear of Stewart’s passing Monday while eating at Quinet’s were Sardis residents Denny Harlan and Pamela Beisel. Harlan said he graduated with Stewart from Magnolia in 1970, though he has not kept in touch over the years. “He was a great guy in school,” Harlan said. “He was always a good kid, and I am very sorry to hear about this.” “It was really nice to have someone from the local area coaching at WVU,” added Beisel. “I am an Ohio State fan, but I started rooting for the Mountaineers when someone from our area starting coaching them.” Stewart hired Tomlin as an assistant coach while Stewart was coaching at the Virginia Military Institute. The Steelers coach recognized Stewart as a “tremendous person.” “We are saddened by the passing of Coach Stew,” Tomlin said. “We not only lost a good football person, we lost an even better family man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Karen and his son Blaine.” Monday, Holgorsen looked to move beyond the drama between himself and Stewart, acknowledging his predecessor as “a true Mountaineer who gave his native state university a decade of coaching service and a lifetime of guidance and inspiration to thousands of young men over a 33-year career.” “Though Coach Stewart achieved many great milestones on the field, we will most remember his kindness and compassion,” Holgorsen added. WVU President Jim Clements remembered Stewart as “compassionate, energetic, and kind.” “Our hearts go out to the Stewart family and Bill’s many friends,” Clements said. “He loved his family dearly and was extremely community-oriented and very giving of his time. He will be greatly missed.” Longtime WVU football coach Don Nehlen hired Stewart onto the staff near the end of Nehlen’s tenure in 2000. “Bill was such a great Mountaineer and a great addition to our staff. It was a terrific hire – he did a great job not only for me, but for Rich and as a head coach. Bill was such a great husband and a great father. Bill Stewart was a great Mountaineer,” he said. “My heart goes out to Karen and Blaine.” Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said, “Together, we ask that Mountaineers everywhere keep the Stewart family in your thoughts and prayers during this sad time.”