Scott Lewis

Title

Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach
Email

scott.lewis@stonybrook.edu

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

In his first season as DC for Stony Brook, Lewis helped lead one of the biggest turnarounds in the FCS as the Seawolves improved from 0-10 in 2023 to 8-4 in 2024. It marked the program’s first winning season since 2018 and its highest national ranking in six years.

The defense made major strides under Lewis, allowing 24.0 points per game compared to 39.2 the year prior. Total yards allowed dropped from 470.7 to 373.5 per game, while touchdowns allowed decreased from 53 to 32. The unit also produced its most turnovers since the 2014 season and allowed its fewest points per game since 2021.

Lewis guided defensive lineman Rushawn Lawrence to First Team All-CAA honors and two All-America selections, while freshman defensive lineman Sebastian Regis earned Freshman All-America recognition. He also helped develop cornerback Rudy Silvera into an All-CAA Second Team selection, linebacker AJ Roberts into an All-CAA Third Team selection, and Anthony Ferrelli into a Phil Steele All-CAA honoree.

The 2025 season continued that momentum as Stony Brook finished 6-6 overall and 4-4 in CAA play with a 5-1 home record, the program’s best at home since 2018. The defense ranked seventh in the CAA in scoring defense, allowed 347.4 yards per game (fifth in the conference), and gave up just 16 rushing touchdowns, the second-fewest in the CAA. Stony Brook also ranked second in the CAA and 17th nationally in third-down defense, ranked 18th nationally and first in the CAA in first-down defense, and led the CAA while ranking 20th nationally in team tackles for loss. The unit also ranked ninth nationally in fewest penalties.

Several players earned postseason recognition, highlighted by First Team All-CAA selection Dyshier Clary. Anthony Ferrelli was named Second Team All-CAA, and Miles McGoy earned All-CAA honorable mention honors.

Lewis spent the previous three seasons at Saint Francis (PA), where he helped the Red Flash reach top-20 FCS rankings in multiple defensive categories in 2022, including ninth in passing defense (176.8), 18th in total defense (332.8), 19th in red zone defense, and 20th in scoring defense. That season, Saint Francis finished 9-3 and reached the FCS Playoffs.

Under his leadership, NEC opponents averaged just 14.6 points per game, and Lewis coached 11 All-Conference selections, two All-America selections, two NEC Defensive Rookies of the Year, and NEC Defensive Player of the Year Donnell Brown, the first in program history.

Prior to Saint Francis, Lewis served as defensive coordinator at Nebraska Kearney from 2017-19, helping the program to its first winning season in the MIAA and a Mineral Water Bowl victory in 2019. He guided 16 All-Conference selections and two All-Region honorees, while his defenses held nine opponents to 14 points or fewer across three seasons.

His first defensive coordinator role came at Eastern New Mexico in 2015, where he helped lead consecutive winning seasons and guided a defense that ranked 15th nationally in rushing defense while allowing the fewest points per game in a decade for the program.

Before becoming a coordinator, Lewis coached at Saint Francis and Eastern New Mexico in linebacker and special teams roles, including a punt return unit that ranked 20th nationally in punt return defense.

Lewis was a five-time All-American linebacker at Saint Francis and a three-time First Team All-NEC selection, finishing his career with 524 tackles, which ranks fifth all-time in FCS history. He was inducted into the Saint Francis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.