Coaching search underway at NMU

Northern Michigan University announced on Wednesday that it would not renew the contract of head men’s basketball coach Doug Lewis Jr.

Lewis was 23-55 in three seasons with the Wildcats. Prior to coaching at NMU, Lewis coached at Central State University in Ohio.

In seven seasons at CSU, Lewis guided the Crusaders to 125 wins. But it wasn’t until his fourth year that the Crusaders started to win games on a consistent basis.

Lewis will not get a fourth year at NMU, which is disappointing to the former men’s basketball coach. He felt the ‘Cats were on the verge of doing something special.

“Just seeing stuff start to develop that was the good part of being here at Northern Michigan, working hard on getting kids to buy in,” said Lewis.

“We weren’t able in the first three years to get into the win column and I feel bad that I am not able to coach these kids.”

Now that NMU and Lewis have gone their separate ways, the Wildcats now turn their attention to finding a new head coach to the basketball team.

“I think certainly a connection to our main recruiting areas is important,” said Forrest Karr, the Director of Athletics at Northern Michigan University.

“Somebody is going to be connected to the Midwest (Michigan, Minnesota Wisconsin) so we can get student-athletes here. I think that is important.”

Karr is currently in the process of forming a search committee to assist him in the coaching search.