Prep football: Lely names Stacey Stewart as head coach

Stacey Stewart, a standout Lely High School athlete, is coming home to be the Trojans’ head football coach.

The school announced the hiring today after combing through more than 60 applications, locally and out of state.

Stewart replaces Dave Miller, who resigned after three seasons, posting an overall mark of 9-21. The Trojans went 1-9 in 2011.

Stewart is the son of Don Stewart, a Lely basketball icon who retired four years ago. Don Stewart still teaches at the school.

“Seeing Lely football slip did not sit right with me,” Stacey Stewart said. “Being a Lely grad and an alum, it wasn’t the tradition me and my teammates started back in the late 1980s. It kind of bugged me inside to see that happening. I wanted to see a change and I am hoping I can make that happen.”

While at Lely, Stewart starred in football and basketball. As quarterback he led the team to two district titles and played in two basketball regional championships in 1985 and 1986. The Trojans basketball teams achieved top-5 state rankings at times with Don Stewart on the sidelines. Stacey Stewart graduated in 1987.

Stacey Stewart played quarterback at Eastern Michigan and Northern Alabama. After graduation, Stewart took his first coaching job at Northern Alabama as assistant quarterbacks coach.

Ken Moss of Marco Island played as a lineman with Stewart at Lely and two years at Eastern Michigan.

“He’s a great guy and he’ll do a great job,” Moss said.

As a varsity assistant coach at Sante Fe High School, Stewart helped the team win three straight district titles and a regional championship in 1998. From 2002-04, Stewart was a varsity assistant coach for Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga. During this time, Stewart learned under coach Randy McPherson, who has three state titles since 2003.

Since 2004, Stewart has been a physical education teacher and varsity assistant coach at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Ga. Under the tutelage of Jeff Herron, Stewart has helped Camden County to a 97-11 record with two state titles and eight straight regional crowns. Camden County is consistently ranked nationally in the Top 25, including a span at No. 2 in the country in 2010.

Stacey and his wife, Paige, have an eight-month-old daughter, Selah. On his coaching stops he has enjoyed working in programs that preach family. It has played a factor in him taking the Lely job.

“I’ve always kept one ear (open) on Lely,” he said. “Over the years my family and I visit at Christmas and one week in the summer. When the possibility came up with Lely my wife and I prayed about it. We decided it was time to start moving in that direction.”

Due to commitments at Camden County High and family matters, Stewart won’t be coming to Lely until mid-February or early March. He will be an instructional staff member.

Stewart recalls how former Lely football coaches Ralph Perriello and Merv Ward influenced him.

“They were positive influences on young men,” he said.

Stewart has been in contact with some of the alumni “who have reached out to me already. I am really excited. I want to build a family atmosphere, to be a proud part of the community as a team and high school, that is a goal.”

Added Don Stewart: “The Stewart family is very excited. Stacey has quite a challenge in front of him, but he is up to it. He has spent his entire life preparing for this moment.”