Juwan Lewis is in his third season on the Alabama State University football staff, having joined in the spring of 2023. He continues to serve as the Running Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
In the 2024 season, Coach Lewis’s running back group played a key role in a dominant ground attack, totaling 2,028 rushing yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry and 169 yards per game on 361 attempts. This marked the program’s first 2,000+ yard rushing season since 2016. Under Lewis’s guidance, the unit helped the Hornets post 300+ rushing yards against Bethune-Cookman, including an HBCU Plus Player of the Game performance. It was the program’s first 300-yard rushing game since the 2017 Magic City Classic versus Alabama A&M.
Throughout the season, the running back unit produced:
- One 300+ yard rushing game
- Three 200+ yard games
- Six 100+ yard games
- Four players ranked in the top 25 of the SWAC for rushing
In 2023, the RB room celebrated a professional milestone when Jawon Howell signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Coach Lewis has also played a key role in recruiting, helping to complete two successful early signing periods for the 2024 and 2025 classes alongside the rest of the coaching staff.
Before joining Alabama State, Lewis served under 2022 GLIAC Coach of the Year Sparky McEwen at Davenport University. During that season, he coached standout players such as:
- Caleef Jenkins, Second-Team All-GLIAC selection and team captain
- Kyshawn Richards, who set a school record with 6.7 yards per carry in 2022
In Week 8 of the 2022 season against Lincoln University (CA), Lewis’s RB unit scored seven total touchdowns shared among five different running backs, setting a school record. That season, the group amassed 1,343 rushing yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry on 271 attempts.
Prior to Davenport, Lewis coached at the University of Findlay, mentoring Garret Clark, who was named G-MAC Co-Freshman of the Year, as well as Brian Benson and Derek Lynch, both of whom earned First-Team All-G-MAC honors.
His coaching career began at Hiram College, where he served as Run Game Coordinator while working with running backs, H-backs, and tight ends. He also coached running backs at NCAA Division III powerhouse Mount Union.
As a high school athlete, Lewis competed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl before playing college football at Eastern Michigan University and Ferris State University. He earned workouts with multiple NFL and CFL teams and later played professionally in the Arena Football League with the Duke City Gladiators, as well as in the Indoor Football League (IFL) with the Bismarck Bucks and Quad City Steamwheelers, where he averaged nine yards per carry in 2019.
Coach Lewis holds a bachelor's degree in communication, Media, and Theater Arts from Eastern Michigan University, where he played under coaches Ron English and Chris Creighton. He also earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Education from Ferris State University, where he played as a graduate student under Coach Tony Annese.
Coach Lewis is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., by way of the Phi Zeta Chapter (Ferris State University).
