Mike Stewart Named New OC At Orangefield

[KFDM COOP]

Mike Stewart has been named the new OC at OF. Stewart has been a Head Coach at Both Evadale and 3A Luling.

[DP#1FAN]

Congrats Mike and best of luck to you and your family.

[KFDM COOP]

Stewart hired as OF offensive coordinator

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

ORANGEFIELD — While another hire was getting all the publicity and headlines, Orangefield Athletic Director Blake Morrison was quietly hitting the phones.

Morrison was busy looking for a new offensive coordinator and he found his man in hometown product Mike Stewart.

Stewart, a 1986 Little Cypress-Mauriceville graduate, spent the last two seasons with Luling as the head coach leading the Eagles to a District 26-3A championship in 2006 with a 3-0 mark. The Eagles placed second in 2007 with a 2-1 record and were 4-7 overall.

The last time Stewart was in the area was when he was the head man at Evadale for five years.

The time was right to come home to Southeast Texas and be closer to his and his wife’s family.

“Being in Luling was not a great situation for my kids,†Stewart said. “I don’t want to keep moving them chasing my rainbows. Now I am in a situation where we can stay a long time.â€

Stewart’s parents live in Orange and his wife’s parents are just down the road in Lumberton.

Orangefield was 3-7 a year ago with an offense which put up 293.6 yards a game. The Bobcats scored an average of 22.8 points per game.

Orangefield is losing its top two rushers, its top passer and top two receivers from a year ago to graduation.

Stewart has sat down with Morrison and watched film on the Orangefield players who are coming back this season.

“I have sat down and watched the kids,†Stewart said. “What I like is they play hard no matter what the score is and no matter how much time is left on the clock. I am very excited to get to work. We have the weapons so its time to get busy.â€

Stewart played baseball for two years at Panola Junior College after graduating from LC-M. He then took his talents to Lamar University where he played with none other, Morrison.

Stewart’s coaching career started at Weslaco before coming home to LC-M for two seasons.

He then became head baseball coach at Woodville for three years before taking the same position in Silsbee.

Stewart then came back to LC-M as the offensive coordinator for three years before taking the Evadale job.

His local ties had a lot to do with the decision to come back to Southeast Texas.

“It is a great thing to go up against West Orange-Stark and Silsbee during the season,†Stewart said. “Growing up here and knowing guys like Dan Hooks and others, it is good to be around all that again. Week in, week out it is a dog fight. That is what really keeps you going.â€

Orangefield fans should not expect much to change in the Orangefield offense.

“I am going to run things Orangefield is familiar with,†Stewart added. “I just hope to add my experience here and there. Luling was very similar. I like the option which Orangefield runs a lot so I am excited to get back to that. I just plan to work with Blake and perfect our team as best we can.â€

Robert Dean, a 1986 graduate of LC-M and former Bears’ assistant, will take over for Stewart as the head coach at Luling.

Also in Orangefield Bobby Granger returns to his alma mater to coach junior high football and will be an assistant to Jeff Bennett on the Bobcats’ baseball team.

Orangefield begins the season Aug. 29 with a home game against East Chambers.

The Bobcats take on Hamshire-Fannett Oct. 10 to start the District 21-3A schedule.

[grizzly62]

CONGARTS MIKE BEST OF LUCK!!!! WELCOME BACK TO SOUTH EAST TEXAS FOOTBALL

[BobcatBacker]

Glad to have Coach Stewart on board. Sounds like he has some experience as an OC.  Maybe he can get Coach Reed to consider coming home(he's at Luling) sometime in the future.