Ryan Lewis enters his first season at Edward Waters as Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach.
Prior to coming to EWC, he spent two seasons as a Defensive Quality Control Coach at Bethune-Cookman University under Head Coach Terry Sims, where he assisted with the linebackers.
In his first year assisting with linebackers as a graduate assistant coach, Lewis worked directly with B-CU standout Tavarus Dantzler. The Homestead, Florida native finished the year with 80 tackles for the Wildcats, and would go on to sign a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, Ralph Williams, Jr. led the Wildcats with 101 total tackles, adding 14 behind the line with two sacks and three pass breakups. He would go on to earn all-conference first team honors for the first time in his career in Maroon and Gold.
The Wildcats ended the year as the nations’ top-ranked defense, allowing just 237.8 yards per game. Other categories in B-CU led or finished near the top of the national charts were as follows: third down conversion defense (.250) – first; first downs defense (160) – second; passing yards allowed (157.58) – seventh; tackles for loss (8.6) – ninth; team pass efficiency defense (107.36) – 12th.
Lewis returned to the Wildcats just prior to the beginning of the 2014 season after spending two years in camps on the professional level playing football for teams including the Miami Dolphins.
One of the most noted players of the Brian Jenkins era for Bethune-Cookman, Lewis was recognized as MEAC Preseason Player of The Year and one of the Top 10 linebackers by The Sports Network, and named a Preseason Second Team FCS All-American in 2011. He finished his senior season with 42 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and a team-high tying four interceptions and five deflections. He also forced three fumbles on the campaign.
In 2010, Lewis was a captain of a defense that ranked fourth nationally in pass efficiency defense (93.97), 15th in scoring defense (19.0 PPG), 25th in pass defense (174.9 YPG) and aided the team in ranking first overall in turnover margin (+2.25) from week one forward. Lewis’ stingy defensive play proved key in BCU’s 10-1 regular season record, leading the Wildcats to the MEAC crown and first NCAA FCS Playoff appearance since 2003. . He finished a stellar career at BCU top ten in school history for interceptions (10).
Lewis started 10 games, leading the 'Cats in tackles (81), including 44 solo stops. He produced 17 tackles for loss (team high) with five quarterback sacks. He would record four hurries, three pass breakups and four forced fumbles (team high0 throughout the year. Two of his fumble recoveries went for a touchdown, while he also registered four interceptions and a total of 3 defensive touchdowns (team high) – one going for touchdown. At the end of the season, Lewis garnered All-MEAC First Team honors and BASN HBCU All-America accolades.
A native of Pompano Beach, Florida, Lewis earned his degree from Bethune-Cookman in 2012, majoring in Physical Education, and Master’s Degree from Bethune-Cookman in 2015, majoring in Transformative Leadership.
