Feb. 24, 2016
Osia Lewis, a 25-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, has joined Derek Mason’s Vanderbilt staff. He will serve as senior defensive assistant and mentor Commodore outside linebackers.
For the last five years, Lewis has been the defensive line coach at San Diego State, working with several outstanding defenses as a member of Rocky Long’s staff.
Mason described Lewis, who has served previously in the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences, as one of the nation’s top collegiate defensive mentors.
“Osia is a perfect fit for our staff,” Mason said. “He brings a tremendous amount of experience to a defensive staff that features some of the nation’s brightest young coaches. Osia also brings excellent credentials to Vanderbilt. He worked with some top-ranked defenses at San Diego State and has a reputation for getting the most from his players.”
Lewis brings extensive experience to Vanderbilt, having served as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate and professional levels. He has coached in 10 bowl games with teams from the Pac-12, Big Ten, Conference USA and Mountain West.
In 2015, San Diego State enjoyed a banner year on the strength of a top-ranked defense. The Aztecs finished 11-3 overall, defeated for the MWC championship and earned a convincing 42-7 win over Cincinnati in the Hawai’i Bowl.
The Aztecs were sparked by an outstanding defense that ranked among the NCAA Top Ten in several defensive categories. It finished the year fifth nationally in total defense (287.3 ypg), seventh in scoring defense (16.4 ppg) and seventh in rushing defense (108.7 ypg), and 10th in pass efficiency. The defense also helped SDSU lead the nation in turnover margin.
The Aztecs’ interior pressure also forced opponents into 34 turnovers, including 23 interceptions en route to San Diego State’s remarkable plus-19 turnover margin by season’s end.
One of Lewis’ top pupils in 2015 was junior Alex Barrett, who produced 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks while earning first team All-Mountain West honors. Barrett also was the fourth Atzec lineman to receive All-Mountain West recognition during Lewis’ tenure at the school.
In 2014, the SDSU defense finished among the NCAA Top 20 in nearly every defensive category, including scoring defense (13th) and total defense (16th).
Prior to joining San Diego State, Lewis spent the 2010 season as a coordinator in the World Football League in 2010, and worked as defensive coordinato at Texas-El Paso during the 2008-09 seasons.
From 2003-07, Lewis served as defensive coordinator at the University of New Mexico. He also had stints coaching the Lobos’ defensive line and linebackers. During his tenure at New Mexico, the Lobos went to four bowl games and its defensive unit ranked fifth nationally in rushing defense in 2003.
From 1997-2002, Lewis guided linebackers and the defensive line at the University of Illinois. In his final year, the Illini played in the 2002 Nokia Sugar Bowl and posted a final No. 12 national ranking.
Lewis earned his first full-time coaching position at the NCAA FBS level at his alma mater, Oregon State. Between 1991-96, he coached linebackers and special teams with the Beavers.
Lewis’ initial entry into the collegiate coaching ranks came as an assistant at Western Oregon in 1989-90.
A native of Tucson, Ariz., Lewis was a team captain and honorable mention All-America at Oregon State. Lewis was All-Pac 10 and named the Beavers’ most inspirational player. He continued his playing career professionally in the Canadian Football League and in the Arena Football League.
Lewis earned a bachelor’s in social science education from Oregon State in 1986. He also completed a master’s in education from Oregon State in 1989.
Lewis and his wife, Darlene, have one son, Marvin, and one daughter, Kiana.