Ex-Richards Quarterback Lewis Believes Everything Worked Out for a Reason

Now it can be said.

“Everything seemed to work out for a reason,” said Sean Lewis, the former Richards High School football quarterback. “The year I graduated (from the University of Wisconsin) was the same year Coach (Gary) Korhornen retired. When he left, I was hired as Richards' new offensive coordinator. If I had still been playing football, I never would have got the job.”

While working at Richards, Lewis realized that his true passion was in coaching. “I knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he said.

Two years later, Lewis was hired at the University of Nebraska Omaha as its tight end coach.

“Omaha was great," he said. "I worked with a veteran coaching staff and learned things that will help me throughout the rest of my career.”

Never one to sit still, however, Lewis moved to Ohio a year later to work at the University of Akron.

“My ultimate goal is to be a Division I offensive coordinator, but to get there, I know I have to put in my time," he said.

During the season, Lewis works about 15 hour days, sweating through workouts and meetings with the Zips' coaching staff. “I haven’t been getting much sleep lately,” he said.

Sometimes, Lewis feels frustrated about not having much control at Akron, but he views it as a learning process.

“Hopefully, in the near future, I’ll be a full-time coach and I'll be able to make decisions that affect my team," he said.

Until then, he is taking it all in stride and enjoying almost every moment of it.

“The hardest part about this job is being away from my family," Lewis said. "I miss a lot of holidays and events, but I understand it’s all part of the deal.”

Even when he’s homesick, Lewis considers himself lucky.

“I have the support to pursue what I am passionate about," he said. "The sacrifices I am making now will benefit my family at the end of the day because I will be happy with what I am doing.”