Derek Lewis Tight Ends – 2nd Season

Coaching Experience

Coaching Accomplishments

• Last season, led a tight end group that totaled 47 catches for 584 yards (12.4 ypc) and three touchdowns. Jordan Reed finished second on the team with 28 catches and third on the team with 307 receiving yards. True freshman tight end A.C. Leonard had eight catches for 99 yards in his first collegiate season.
• Tutored Minnesota’s Nick Tow-Arnett to an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection following the 2009 season after Tow-Arnett finished second on the team with 37 receptions for 505 yards and three touchdowns. As a group, Gopher tight ends in 2009 averaged over 13 yards per reception.
• Tight ends were also a prominent part of the Gopher offense in 2008, as the group hauled in 46 receptions for 542 yards and three TDs, averaging 11.8 yards per reception. Jack Simmons was second on the team in receptions with 36 and was recognized by the Big Ten as an Honorable Mention selection. Minnesota’s tight ends accounted for 30 receptions and 351 yards in 2007, part of the second-best single-season passing mark (2,949 yards) in school history. 
• From 2005-06, Lewis worked at Texas as a graduate assistant, where he was part of the staff that captured the 2005 BCS National Title. He also coached TE David Thomas who owns UT career records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a tight end, in addition to the Texas single-game record for receptions by a tight end (10, 2006 Rose Bowl). 

Prominent Players Coached

MINNESOTA:

• TE NICK TOW-ARNETT – Earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as Minnesota’s second-leading receiver in 2009.

TEXAS:

• TE DAVID THOMAS – Completed his college career as the most prolific receiving tight end in University of Texas history and set the school’s all-time career records for receptions by a tight end (98), receiving yards by a tight end (1,367) and touchdown receptions by a tight end (15). The New England Patriots selected him in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft Picks Coached in College (Round Drafted)

• TE David Thomas (3rd) – Texas ’06 – New England Patriots 

Playing Career

While with the Longhorns, Lewis was a solid four-year receiving tight end who started 16 career games. He played in three bowl games (1995 Sugar Bowl; 1997 Fiesta Bowl; 1999 Cotton Bowl) and was a member of two conference championship teams (1995 SWC; 1996 Big 12). Lewis was voted 1998 first-team All-Big 12 by conference coaches after being named third-team All-Big 12 in 1997. Lewis hauled in 18 catches for 236 yards and six touchdowns in a senior campaign that was highlighted by his 61-yard reception on fourth and inches that helped seal the 1996 Big 12 Championship game for Texas. He finished his career ranked third all-time at Texas in TDs by a tight end (8), ranked fifth in career receptions by a tight end (47), and ranked seventh on the school’s chart for receiving yards by a tight end (551). He spent two seasons as a member of the St. Louis Rams (1999-2000) and was part of the Super Bowl XXXIV championship team.

Personal Information

• Birth date: April 3, 1977
• Hometown: New Orleans, La.
• Education: 1998 – Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from University of Texas
• Family: Married to Adonis Martin Lewis. Has a son, Myles.

Bowl Games as a Coach

• 2006: Rose (BCS National Championship Game)
• 2006: Alamo
• 2008: Insight
• 2009: Insight
• 2012: Gator

Bowl Games as a Player

• 1995: Sugar
• 1997: Fiesta
• 1999: Cotton