August 10, 1999

COLUMBIA, MO. ___ -- Ed Stewart, the Big Eight Conference defensive player of the year on Nebraska's 1994 national championship football team, is the new coordinator of the University of Missouri's Life Skills Program, Director of Athletics Michael Alden announced today.

Stewart, an academic counselor at Michigan State University the last two years, replaces Lee Winfield, who left the department earlier this spring to join the coaching staff of the St. Louis Swarm basketball team.

"We're pleased that Ed Stewart has joined our staff at the University of Missouri," Director of Athletics Mike Alden said. "He brings some very special qualities to Mizzou that will enable our life skills program to continue to grow. Our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his experiences."

A native of Chicago, Stewart graduated from Nebraska in 1994 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a minor in English. A consensus all-America linebacker and Butkus Award finalist in '94, Stewart played two years of professional football, most recently with the St. Louis Rams in 1996.

"Ed Stewart was not only an outstanding player for us at the University of Nebraska, but was also a fine student who cares about young people," said former Nebraska Head Football Coach Tom Osborne. "I'm sure that Ed will do a fine job as the life skills coordinator at the University of Missouri."

At Michigan State, where he was studying for a master's degree in educational administration, Stewart developed and implemented the Spartan Unity Council. He's also in the process of initiating an annual football/life skills summer camp in his hometown. He's also been a public education spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation in Nebraska.