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Marvin Lewis

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Marvin Ronald Lewis (September 23, 1958) is the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League since January 14, 2003.

In 2005, he led the Bengals to their first winning season and division title in 15 years.

Playing career

In addition to playing quarterback and safety at Fort Cherry (Pa.) High School, Lewis wrestled and played baseball. He was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference linebacker with Idaho State University but was not drafted out of college and never played in the NFL.

Lewis was inducted into the Idaho State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Coaching career

College

Lewis began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Idaho State before becoming the team's linebacker coach for four seasons (1981-1984). The Bengals won the NCAA Division I-AA Championship during his first year with the team.

As a linebacker coach, he coached for Idaho State from 1981-84, then Long Beach State from 1985-85, and University of New Mexico from 1987-89. He coached outside linebackers at the University of Pittsburgh from 1990-92.

National Football League

Assistant Coach

Lewis had coaching internships with the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers before serving as the linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers for four seasons (1992-1996). He coached four Pro Bowl linebackers while with the Steelers and coached in Super Bowl XXX.

The newly relocated Baltimore Ravens hired Lewis as their defensive coordinator in 1996, a position that he held for six seasons (1996-2001). In 2000, the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV thanks to a defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards (970) and the fewest points (165) in a 16-game season. "If ever a man proved his worth as a future head coach, Marvin Lewis did it with this complete domination of the Giants in their 16 possessions: Punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, interception, punt, interception, interception, punt, interception, punt, punt, punt, end of game", said Sports Illustrated writer Michael Silver after the Ravens 34-7 Super Bowl win.

After being passed over for several head coaching jobs, Lewis was hired by the Washington Redskins and served as the team's defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the 2002 season.

Head Coach

Cincinnati Bengals
Lewis became the ninth coach in Bengals history on January 14, 2003, when he was hired to replace Dick LeBeau, who was fired after the worst season in franchise history. In his five seasons (2003-present) with the team, Lewis has compiled a 42-38 regular season record. Lewis beat both Tom Coughlin and Mike Mularkey for the position with the Bengals. He had previously interviewed for head coaching positions with the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but was never offered a job. Lewis had previously turned down head coaching opportunities with Cal and Michigan State to continue pursuing his goal of becoming a head coach in the NFL.

The Bengals finished 8-8 in each of their first two seasons under Lewis, recording a non-losing season for the first time in seven years. In 2005, Cincinnati recorded an 11-5 record, winning the AFC North division and making the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Despite setting multiple franchise records in the regular season, however, the Bengals lost to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-17, in the wild card round, after starting QB Carson Palmer went down on the second play.

Competition committee

Lewis is a member of the NFL competition committee.

Head Coaching Record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
CIN 2003

 8 8 0 .500 2nd in AFC North - - - -
CIN 2004

8 8 0 .500 3rd in AFC North - - - -
CIN 2005

 11 5 0 .688 1st in AFC North 0 1 .000 '''Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in Wild Card Round.
CIN 2006

 8 8 0 .500 2nd in AFC North - - - -
CIN 2007

 7 9 0 .438 3nd in AFC North - - - -
Bengals' Total 42 38 0 .525 0 1 .000 -
Total 42 38 0 .525 0 1 .000 -

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches that Marvin Lewis has served under:

Assistant coaches under Marvin Lewis that became head coaches in the NFL:

  • None

Notes and references

External links



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Last updated on Tuesday February 19, 2008 at 11:56:13 PST (GMT -0800)
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