NEW ORLEANS — Sterling Steward, who served Xavier University of Louisiana during the early 2000s as director of campus recreational sports, died Feb. 26, 2025. He was 54 years old.
        Steward's funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday (March 15) at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 5621 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. that day. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
        Steward used his experience at XULA as a springboard to director of athletics jobs at Alaska-Fairbanks and Kentucky State. He also worked as an athletics administrator at Alabama State, Eastern Oregon, Mississippi Valley, Morgan State and the University of New Orleans.
        Steward was a New Orleans native, and he received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi.
        "Sterling was an outstanding young man who really cared about Xavier students and made a lot of sacrifices to develop outstanding intramural and recreational sports programs," said Bo Browder, in his 26th season as head coach of XULA women's basketball. "Sterling was a wonderful coworker, but he was an even better friend."
        Survivors include sons Sterling, Ty and Emory; a sister, Zell Steward; his fiancé, Carla Lester; and his former wife, Rachael Steward.