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Larry Lewis at a glance...
Larry Lewis is in his first year at Colorado State and in 2008 marks his 27th season as a college coach. he officially joined the Rams on Jan. 14, 2008. Idaho State's head coach from 1999-2006, Lewis guided the Bengals to a share of the 2002 Big Sky Conference title and the school's first pair of consecutive eight-win seasons, in 2002 and '03, in the program's 101-year history. For a stretch from 2001-04, Idaho State was ranked in 22 of 23 national polls. His Bengals teams produced 13 All-Americans, 127 all-conference selections and 41 academic all-conference awards. Two of his former players, quarterback Matt Gutierrez and defensive end Jeff Charleston, were in uniform during the 2007 NFL playoffs. Gutierrez is a reserve behind Tom Brady with the New England Patriots, and Charleston started three games in `07 for the Indianapolis Colts. Another former player, Jared Allen, is an All-Pro with the Kansas City Chiefs and won the 2003 Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top Division I-AA defensive player. And, former ISU standout Pago Togafau played seven games as a rookie linebacker in 2007 for the Philadelphia Eagles. Lewis was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year in 2002, when Idaho State notched its best record in 21 years and captured a share of its first Big Sky title in more than two decades. That season, the Bengals had 22 all-conference players; they had just one only three years earlier, in 1999. The Bengals closed the year No. 16 in the national polls. One year later, in 2003, he guided ISU to an 8-4 record while playing the nation's toughest Division I-AA schedule. That memorable campaign included two dramatic double-overtime triumphs, one of which was the Bengals' first victory over Montana in 10 years, a 43-40 win over the perennial national power. In fact, his team knocked off four nationally ranked teams that season, and finished the season as the country's No. 21 team. Before taking the reins at Idaho State, Lewis spent 18 years as an assistant coach and built recruiting relationships in Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Canada and Oregon, his home state. His recruiting responsibilities at CSU include Northern and Central California. Prior to his tenure at ISU, Lewis spent 10 years at Washington State, where he served as defensive ends coach (1989-94) and assistant head coach/special teams coordinator (1995-98). During that period, WSU experienced unprecedented success and his linemen helped the school post the nation's No. 2 defense against the run in both 1993 and 1994. The Cougars went to three bowl games, including the Rose Bowl at the end of a 10-1 season in 1997. In that contest, WSU nearly upset eventual national champion Michigan. From 1981-88, Lewis coached at Weber State, where he began as a part-time assistant. Promoted to full-time status by head coach Mike Price prior to the 1983 season, Lewis coached outside linebackers from 1981-85, then wore two caps as recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach from 1986-88. In 1987, the Wildcats enjoyed what remains the best season in program annals, a 10-3 campaign that saw them advance to the national Division I-AA quarterfinals and capture a share of the Big Sky Conference championship. In 1981, his first year at the school, Weber State went 7-4 to snap a string of 10 losing seasons. Lewis began coaching after a stellar playing career at Boise State, where he lettered four times. After redshirting in 1976, he was the team's most improved player as a freshman. As a starter at outside linebacker, he helped the Broncos win the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA national championship, on the heels of a 10-1 season in 1979 and a Big Sky Conference championship in 1977. A four-year football letterman at Vale (Ore.) Union High School, the tailback/linebacker played for his father and helped the 12-0 team to the Class 2A state title as a senior in 1975. He also lettered four times in baseball, helping Union to the state playoffs in 1976, and twice in wrestling. Lewis was an outside linebacker at Boise State, helping the Broncos win the 1980 I-AA national championship as a senior in 1980. Born Oct. 30, 1957, in Nyssa, Ore., he and his wife, Lisa, have a daughter, Hanna. His father, the late Arnie Lewis, still is considered one of the finest high school coaches in Oregon history. Lewis earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Boise State in 1981. Coaching background:
Prominent Players Coached
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