Transitioning to a new era without Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia at quarterback and seeking to build on the program's first-ever 10-win season, Vanderbilt is targeting an up-and-coming Football Championship Subdivision offensive assistant to join the Commodores' staff, FootballScoop has learned.
Multiple sources tell FootballScoop that Clark Lea's Vanderbilt program is targeting Towson wide receivers coach DJ Steward to join the Commodores in an offensive assistant position, likely again working with the team's wide receivers and Alex Bailey. Bailey is Vanderbilt's on-field wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
Bailey and Steward previously worked together during the 2020 season at Mid-American Conference resident Ball State, which that season won the MAC Championship and also routed San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl to notch Ball State's first-ever bowl win as an Football Bowls Subdivision program.
Steward also coached in the Texas high school ranks, serving as offensive coordinator at Houston's Second Baptist High School before joining Ball State and then also coaching at NCAA Division II program Pittsburg State and at FCS program Dayton before joining the Idaho State program as wide receivers coach.
His work there led Steward to being tabbed to the Towson staff of Pete Shinnick in 2023.
Now, Steward is on the verge of his first-ever Power Conference role in an Southeastern Conference program that just missed the 12-team 2025 College Football Playoff field.
The Commodores are scheduled to open their 2026 season Sept. 5 at home against FCS program Austin Peay, which enters Year 3 under former Duke player and David Cutcliffe disciple Jeff Faris. Following that game, Vanderbilt has two more home games in its season-opening three-game home stand -- Sept. 12 against Delaware, Sept. 19 against Atlantic Coast Conference resident North Carolina State -- before initiating SEC play on the road at Auburn. The Tigers are entering their first season under Alex Golesh, the former Tennessee Vols, Iowa State Cyclones and NFL's Indianapolis Colts assistant who was hired away from his post as USF's head coach to take over Auburn's struggling program.