Kankakee Valley will play this season with heavy hearts following the loss of longtime assistant coach Brad Stewart.
Head coach Kirk Kennedy said Stewart was a cornerstone of his staff. “Since the early 1990s, when we worked together at Lowell, Brad has been a rock,” Kennedy said. “You could depend on him, his schemes, his teaching. He was a great coach and a great man.”
Kennedy said Stewart will be honored this fall. “We’ll have little stickers on our helmets this year to remember him,” he said. “We’re moving forward in his memory and honor.”
For the Kougars, Stewart’s legacy is lasting. “There’s no replacement,” Kennedy said. “He was a man of integrity and a positive influence on our kids.”
Players echoed the impact of leadership and accountability. “We hold each other up,” Duttlinger said. “That’s how you honor those who came before you.”
Anderson added: “It’s about always having your teammate’s back.”
