Syracuse offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sean Lewis is leaving to take the final FBS head coaching vacancy at Kent State. The move comes after Lewis was reported to be a “strong candidate” for the position. 
Lewis has made a strong impact on the offense that finished last season ranked 22nd in the country in total offense. All of this comes after checking in at 10th to last in the nation in Scott Shafer’s final year.
Think Jim Boeheim and Mike Hopkins, but on a much, much lesser scale. That’s what this feels like. Lewis has been Dino Babers’ right hand man since his Eastern Illinois days and has helped groom an offensive scheme that been amongst college football’s best. We have seen Hopkins leave SU and flourish at Washington, despite the deck stacked against him, with a win against No. 2 Kansas that was essentially a road game.
This is just the coaching tree continuing to produce its offspring. Lewis is only  If anything, this is complementary of what Babers has brought to the program. Teams around the country respect the Orange’s offense enough that they are willing to take a chance on a branch of Babers’ tree to hopefully institute a similar system. Of course, this is what Babers once was. He was a product of Art Briles while at Baylor, and has since put his own spin on Briles’ system. So far, it has worked out pretty well.
But don’t think this offense is going to take a huge step back without Lewis. Remember, this is Babers’ system, not Lewis’, that he has put his own spin on from his time at Baylor Briles. Lewis will certainly do the same at Kent State.
One glaring consequence from the move is how Babers plans to replace Lewis. Again, Lewis has been on Babers’ staff ever since he has been a head coach. Another domino from that is what happens with Eric Dungey. The senior quarterback will have his third offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in four years after Tim Lester left with the end of the Scott Shafer regime. You hear all the time about how consistency at the OC position helps quarterbacks in the NFL get comfortable and find a rhythm. College quarterbacks usually will stick with one OC for their careers, two at most. But Dungey is now on his third as a fourth year starter. He has had to learn two different systems and now gets another wrench thrown at him. Syracuse fans may not be appreciating enough the obstacles Dungey has had to face throughout his career, injuries aside.
We will have to wait and see how Syracuse responds to Lewis moving on to Kent State, as well as if any recruits decommit from the program just days before the early December 20th signing period. The Fizz will keep you updated here on OrangeFizz.net, as well as our Twitter account @OrangeFizz.
