Stony Brook University Athletics

Stony Brook football and head coach Billy Cosh announced Scott Lewis as the program's next defensive coordinator, as Lewis will assume the role immediately ahead of the 2024 season, the program announced on January 16, 2024. 

In his first season as the DC for Stony Brook, Lewis helped the team to new heights as the team had most significant turnaround in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), with Stony Brook improving from a 0-10 record in 2023 to 8-4 in 2024. It marked their first winning season since 2018 and their highest national ranking in six years.

The defense also saw substantial improvements, limiting opponents to 24.0 points per game compared to 39.2 the previous year. Total yards allowed dropped from 470.7 to 373.5 per game, and the Seawolves reduced touchdowns allowed from 53 to 32. The team also caused their most turnovers since the 2014 season and allowed their fewest points per game since 2021. 

Lewis guided Defensive lineman Rushawn Lawrence to the First Team All-CAA honors and two All-American awards, while freshman standout defensive lineman Sebastian Regis was named to the Freshman All-American team. He also helped cornerback Rudy Silvera to the All-CAA Second Team, linebacker AJ Roberts to the All-CAA Third Team and Anthony Ferrelli to the Phil Steele CAA All-Conference team.
 
Lewis spent the last three seasons at Saint Francis (PA), where he guided the Red Flash to top-20 FCS ranks in four categories in 2022, ranking ninth in passing defense (176.8), 18th in total defense (332.8), 19th in red zone defense (75%) and 20th in scoring defense (21.5) in 2022. That year, Saint Francis surged to a 9-3 record and reached the FCS playoffs.
 
"Going against Scott while at Richmond and at Western Michigan, I was always impressed by how hard his guys played and how multiple he was on defense," Cosh said. "He will bring energy and focus to our defense. Excited to work alongside Scott."
 
Under his leadership, NEC opponents averaged just 14.6 points per game. Saint Francis players were consistently on award lists, as Lewis coached 11 All-Conference selections, two All-America selections, two defensive NEC Rookies of the Year and the NEC Defensive Player of the Year in Donnell Brown in 2022. Brown's 2022 pick as Defensive Player of the Year was the first in school history.
 
Prior to Saint Francis, Lewis spent three seasons (2017-19) at the University of Nebraska Kearney as the defensive coordinator, helping the Lopers to its first winning season in the MIAA and a Mineral Water Bowl victory in 2019. He guided 16 players to All-Conference awards and added two All-Region picks. Lewis' defense held nine opponents to 14 points or fewer across his three seasons.
 
His career as a defensive coordinator began at Eastern New Mexico University in 2015. He helped lead ENMU to consecutive winning seasons, and his defense ranked 15th nationally in rushing defense and limited conference opponents to 84.4 rushing yards per game. The Greyhounds also allowed their fewest points per game in 10 seasons under Lewis.
 
Before becoming a defensive coordinator, Lewis had served stints at both SFU as a linebackers coach/special teams coordinator (2014) and ENMU as a linebackers coach (2011-2013). These stints included coaching a punt return unit which finished 20th in the FCS in punt return yards allowed, averaging 12.47 per game and a linebacker unit at ENMU that led the conference in rushing defense in 2013.
 
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Saint Francis in 2011 and a masters in physical education from ENMU in 2013. As a player at Saint Francis (2007-10), Lewis was a five-time All-American selection and a team captain his last three seasons. In the Northeast Conference, he was a three-time First Team All-NEC pick and garnered both the NEC and ECAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2007. He finished with 524 career tackles, which ranks fifth all-time in FCS history.
 
Lewis also picked up several academic awards in school, including National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete and William V. Campbell Award Semi-Finalist.
 
The Johnstown, Pa. native was inducted into Saint Francis' Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.