JACKSONVILLE – Head football coach Jack Crowe announced on Monday that defensive coordinator Greg Stewart has left the team to take the same position at the University of Louisiana for Mark Hudspeth.

Stewart had the most coaching experience of any other assistant coach on the Gamecock football staff, coaching for 20 seasons.

“We appreciate all the years of dedicated service that Coach Stewart has given to our football program,” said Crowe. “We wish him and his family success in their future endeavors.”

Under Stewart, the Gamecocks had one of the most dominant defenses in the Ohio Valley Conference over the last four years. JSU led the OVC in scoring defense for the third straight year in 2009, allowing just 17.09 points per game. In 2009, the Gamecocks also led the OVC in total defense (304.82), pass defense (154.91) and pass efficiency defense (103.99).

Over the last two years, JSU had five players named to the All-OVC first-team defense with Monte Lewis (LB), Keginal Harris (DB), Brandt Thomas (DL), Alexander Henderson (LB) and T.J. Heath (DB) leading the way. Jamison Wadley (DL), Antonio Bonner (LB) and Carnell Clark (DB) were each second-team All-OVC selections over the last two seasons.

In 2008, JSU led the OVC in scoring defense for the third straight year, allowing just 21.7 points per game. In 2007, the Gamecocks led the league in total defense (354.3 yards per game), rushing defense (145.5 yads per game) and scoring defense after allowing only 23.4 points per contest.

In 2006, the Gamecocks allowed just 17.5 points per game, 114.8 rushing yards and only 270.2 yards of total yards, which were all tops in the conference.

Since joining the OVC in 2003, the Gamecocks have placed 33 defensive players on the All-OVC teams, while Stewart has coached a total of 13 All-Americans on the defensive side of the ball since the 1991 season.

In 1998-99, Stewart spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Delta State, where the Statesmen led the GSC in defense before he joined Jack Crowe's staff in 2000.

Stewart began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at JSU in 1989 and was elevated to full-time in 1991. He coached the Gamecock defensive line after serving as defensive backs coach for a year. He spent six seasons as outside linebacker coach and coached the running backs his first year on the staff in 1989.

Stewart was a four-year starter at nose guard for Troy State from 1984-87. He helped guide the Trojans to two NCAA Division II National Championships and is the only member on the current staff who coached the Gamecocks to the 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Crowe said he would begin a national search to replace Stewart, but said he would not rush into a decision.

“Our commitment remains to hire the best coach available and we will begin a nationwide search immediately,” Crowe said. “We will begin the process today.”