Defensive Coordinator Stewart Leaving UH

Updated: Wednesday, 04 Jan 2012, 10:34 AM CST
Published : Wednesday, 04 Jan 2012, 10:21 AM CST

HOUSTON - Defensive Coordinator Brian Stewart told FOX 26 Sports he is leaving the University of Houston to pursue other opportunities.

The Cougars are replacing Stewart by promoting linebackers coach Jamie Bryant to defensive coordinator. He is a former defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt.

Stewart joined the Cougars two years ago under then head coach Kevin Sumlin, who has since taken over at Texas A&M.

New UH coach Tony Levine is in the process of building his staff.

“I had a good opportunity to be the defensive coordinator on a 13 and 1 team that was the best in school history,” said Stewart. “The players and coaches believed we had a good defense that was getting better and better each week. I want to explore opportunities to do the same thing somewhere else.”

On Stewart's watch, the University of Houston's red zone defense was ranked 2nd in the nation, trailing only Alabama. In 2010, the Cougars were ranked 63rd in red zone defense.

This past season, the Cougars were ranked 7th in the nation in turnover margin after being ranked 88th in 2010.

Also, the Cougars improved in scoring defense from being ranked 96th in the nation in 2010 to 40th in the country this past season.

Meanwhile, UH has hired Lee Hays as the Cougar's offensive line coach. He was the offensive coordinator at Tarleton State in 2010 and was the assistant offensive line coach at UH in 2009. He is a former offensive coordinator at Baylor and West Texas A&M, and he is also a former Marine staff sergeant.