New Beginnings: Longtime Newman football coach Nelson Stewart hired by Westminster High School in Georgia
by: William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Nelson Stewart said he’d never really compiled a resume’ much less had experience interviewing for jobs.
The 19-year head coaching veteran of Newman found himself thrust into such a position where his work experience, coupled with his interview skills, recently resulted in the New Orleans native becoming the new head coach at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
“One thing in this profession where guys are looking and always going, I was solid where my feet were,” Stewart said. “I never looked at opportunities, I didn’t have a resume. (Westminster athletic director) Shannon Soares knew my record and different things.
“We’ve had such a nice run of success and able to build it,” Stewart said. “You don’t know what you’re going to do until you’re in that position. I heard that so many times from coaches and many great friends like the (Ole Miss defensive coordinator) Pete Goldings of the world. It comes down to a one-chance moment. That’s kind of how it happened.”
Westminster found itself in the market for a coach for the first time in 33 years when the independent private school was looking to replace Gerry Romberg, a 42-year coaching veteran, who retired following a 5-6 record and first-round playoff loss. He guided Westminster to the playoffs 27 times, leading them to a state championship in 2015, seven region titles, and three semifinals.
“I reached out to people close to me and heard some unbelievable things,” Stewart said. “They said Westminster’s different. It’s not a typical high school job. I don’t think there’s anything like this anywhere in the country. Their colors are green and white (identical to Newman), they have high academic standards and a long-tenured coach. A lot of things lined up and unfolded naturally.”
Stewart was the product of a national search firm that identified what they believed to be the most qualified candidate to become head coach of the school located in upscale Buckhead.
A 1995 graduate of Newman, Stewart, developed deep roots at the New Orleans school back to his days as a fourth-grade ball boy. Once he completed his career at Tulane, then head coach Frank Gendusa. Gendusa informally asked Stewart to become the team’s team’s offensive line coach, a position he handled for seven years, until being elevated to the Greenies’ head coach.
“I really hadn’t gone through it,” Stewart said of formal interviews. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career. It’s very humbling. I know people go through exhaustive interview processes. They (Westminster) reached out, we had conversations, and it went that way. I’m the rarity. I’ve been there a long time.”
Stewart has continued to remain at Newman and will complete his teaching and coaching duties. He’s made several trips to Westminster where he was introduced to the school’s football support group and met with his coaching staff and the candidates to become his starting quarterback. Without spring training in Georgia, an itinerary has been developed for the team’s offseason workouts beginning in June.
“I’m staying there through and doing it the right way,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of emotional goodbyes.”
Maintaining a long-range perspective
“I never thought I’d leave,” Stewart said of Newman.
That was his mindset after Newman completed a 9-1 season in 2024 that included a season-ending loss in the quarterfinals to eventual Division III select state champion Catholic-New Iberia.
“I was already working with the quarterbacks, doing installs, the budget,” Stewart said of his offseason. “It (leaving) was definitely not on my radar.”
Stewart played for Gendusa and served as team captain with Craig Clasen in fall of 1984. He credited former Tulane coach Buddy Teevins for helping secure a preferred walk-on spot with Green Wave where he spent four years before heeding Gendusa’s call to return to Newman in the spring of 2000.
After a 13-year stay at the school, Stewart spent seven years as an assistant coach and 19 more as head coach, giving him a total of 39 of his 47 years on Newman’s campus.
Stewart compiled an impressive 162-54 record that included six trips to the state semifinals, six quarterfinals, and seven district championships.
“The amount of games we’ve won, consistently gotten to the quarterfinal/semifinal round,” Stewart said of high points with the program. “If you’re doing that, there’s a lot to be proud of. It’s all about the kids and the coaches. I’m proud we were able to accomplish so much team success.”
The fact Stewart’s stay at Newman was devoid of any state championships doesn’t define his legacy.
“One of the greatest coaches in the history is (former Newman coach) Tony Reginelli with over 200 wins,” Stewart said of Reginelli, who was 203-63 in 26 seasons with the Greenies. “I was on a few of those teams, even with the best quarterback (Peyton Manning) to ever do it, and we still fell a little short. When you’re completely results-oriented, it is way bigger than a trophy. So many things have to line up and we have obviously been close before. Judgment’s a part of it. The best coaches that I know are the ones that I know focus on what’s important.
“Football’s the best sport in the world because it teaches kids about life,” Stewart said. “It’s the wins, the losses, the struggle, working together. We started after (Hurricane) Katrina and had a few coaches and 30-something kids, and we just built and worked. I’m just proud of everything we did. To win a state championship in Louisiana High School football, I think there’s nothing tougher to do. The worse reasoning for us to do something is solely to be results-based. The influence and the connection you have with kids has nothing to do with it.”
Stewart referred to sage conversations with state championship-winning coaches Brent Indest, formerly of Catholic-New Iberia, and Nick Saltaformaggio, formerly of East Jefferson, for perspective from long-time friends in the profession.
“They say it doesn’t change you,” Stewart said of winning state championships. “It’s a great moment, but it’s really not about the coach. It’s always been and will be about the kids.”
Proud of contributions that led to new job
Three of the school’s trips to the semifinals – one as a player, the other as a coach for Stewart – remain vivid.
The first was in 1991 when Stewart was a freshman on a team that had senior wide receiver Cooper Manning. That was followed in 2014 with a season powered by Division I signees Jay Tyler and Kendall Bussey but ended in a 55-35 loss to Indest-coached Catholic-New Iberia.
Two seasons ago third-seeded Newman traveled to Shreveport but couldn’t keep pace with second-second Calvary Baptist in a 35-27 defeat.
In each case, the Greenies lost to the eventual state champions.
“It hurt, but it also told you how close,” Stewart said. “Being in those competitive games, the climb is what you live for.”
Stewart recently relieved the Calvary game while on a Zoom call with both of his quarterbacks at Westminster. Not only did he introduce the offensive scheme utilized by the Greenies, but he showed the poise and leadership that Newman quarterback Eli Friend displayed against a talented opponent.
Stewart also prepared for his new job with history lessons on Westminster football and the career of Romberg. During one of his visits to the school, he met with the team’s outgoing seniors for a look into the state of the program and what was vital to them.
“The kids were a lot like Newman kids,” he said. “They were very thoughtful, very passionate about what they were doing, and great questions.”
During his introductory gathering, Westminster reached out to several of Stewart’s former players for testimonials on the man they played for what Westminster could expect, and why they’ve always held him in such high regard.
Stewart expects to have an enhanced roster of close to 90 players compared to the mid-60s number at Class 2A Newman along with a seasoned coaching staff and sparkling facilities.
“It was about the community and there were a ton of people there,” he said. “I’ve been back a few times since. I’m trying to meet as many kids as I can, meet with the staff. It’s been exciting. I have a great rapport with the kids, getting to know the parents. We’ve created the installs already.”
Stewart paid tribute to the school and the reputation of the Buckhead area for raising a family. He also thanked the school’s current coaches for making him feel comfortable enough to uproot his family for a new beginning.
“I think it’s going to be a great adventure, a great journey,” Stewart said. “It’s a magical place.”
Soares, though, was the person who convinced Stewart to make a leap of faith in his personal and professional life. It wasn’t solely based on a resume of achievement but the kind of intangibles in a man that she was looking to direct the school’s football program.
“In all of our interviews, she never once brought up championships or wins and losses,” Stewart said. “She brought up the excellence and being a leader, and she felt whatever I’ve done in my 19 years as a head coach, and 26 (years in coaching) was enough to show her she felt that I was the right person for the position.”
Featured Image Courtesy of Westminster Football on X