Juwan Lewis is in his fourth season on the Alabama State University football staff as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Alabama State University football team, joining Head Coach Eddie Robinson Jr.'s staff in the spring of 2023. In his role, he has established himself as an integral part of the Hornets' success, both on the offensive side of the ball and through his recruiting efforts.
Since arriving on campus, Lewis has played a key role in the development of the Hornets' running backs. The 2025 season was a standout year for the Hornet running back room under the direction of Lewis, as the position group produced one of the most productive rushing seasons in program history. ASU tailbacks combined for 2,653 yards on the season, as well as 33 of Alabama State's 35 rushing touchdowns. The unit combined to post five games of over 200 rushing yards, including rushing for 388 yards against Bethune-Cookman and 303 yards against in-state rival Alabama A&M. His room featured three of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's (SWAC) top 25 rushers, the leading scorer in the SWAC, the third most touchdowns by a tailback in ASU history (16, Marcus Harris II), and an HBCU GO MVP of the Game honoree in back-to-back seasons.
Lewis helped guide one of the nation’s most explosive offenses in 2025 as Alabama State ranked among the top programs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Hornets led the SWAC in total offense (460.5 yards per game), scoring offense (42.4 points per game), passing offense (268.8 yards per game), completion percentage (.696), fewest interceptions thrown (3), pass efficiency rating (194.1), red zone offense (91.4 percent), red zone touchdowns (43), fewest turnovers lost (10), and third-down conversion percentage (51.8 percent). Nationally, Alabama State ranked second in scoring offense, fourth in total offense, fourth in completion percentage, fourth in third-down conversions, seventh in red zone offense, and first in both pass efficiency and fewest interceptions thrown. Lewis' coaching efforts helped Alabama State's offensive coaching staff earn the recognition of the Minority Forum Offensive Staff of the Year from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
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.
In 2023, Jawon Howell signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
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, a 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’ running backs combined to for seven 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 Game before playing college football at Eastern Michigan University and Ferris State University. He earned workouts with multiple NFL and CFL teams and later in the Arena Football League with the Duke City Gladiators. Lewis also played in the Indoor Football League (IFL) with the Bismarck Bucks and Quad City Steamwheelers, where he averaged nine yards per carry in 2019.
Lewis earned 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 Tony Annese.
Lewis is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., by way of the Phi Zeta Chapter (Ferris State University).
