Everett taps longtime area coach Stewart to lead football team

EVERETT — After one year of retirement from high school football, longtime coach Mark Stewart is back on the sidelines in Wesco.

Stewart, who stepped down as Mariner coach in 2021, has been hired as the new head coach at Everett, replacing Brien Elliott, who coached the Seagulls for the past four seasons. Everett is coming off a 2-8 record in 2022.

Everett Public Schools announced the news early Friday morning.

Stewart, who has coached for 36 years, brings an extensive coaching and playing career to Everett.

He was at the helm for the Marauders for six seasons, which included one trip to the state playoffs in 2016. He spent one year as the defensive coordinator in 2014 before taking over as head coach for John Ondriezek in 2015, who retired after 22 seasons.

Prior to that, Stewart, 63, coached at Mercer Island, Highline, Renton, Garfield and Meadowdale, with his most successful stint coming with the Mavericks, where he was the head coach from 2000-2012. He went 87-49 over his 13 seasons at Meadowdale, which included seven state playoff berths.

From 1991-92, Stewart spent time as an assistant at Western Washington University and was coordinator of the strength and fitness center.

Stewart, a San Jose, Calif., native, played linebacker for the University of Washington from 1979-82 and was selected as an All-American in his final year, recording 104 tackles that season and being named to the Senior Bowl and the Hula Bowl. He shares the the all-time record for sacks in one game as a Husky with five, coming against UCLA as a senior. He also holds the UW record for most forced fumbles in a game with five. He was inducted into the University of Washington Hall of Fame in 2008.

Stewart was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 5th round in 1983 and spent two seasons in the NFL.

In 2022, Stewart was the running backs coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League.