Ball State hires UCLA’s Michael Lewis in a homecoming for Indiana native

Mick Cronin likes to say that he has three head coaches on his UCLA workers, a means for him to reward the work of his assistants whereas lobbying for them to get head teaching jobs.

One down, two to go.

Michael Lewis was employed by Ball State on Friday in a transfer that may enable the Indiana native who performed for Bobby Knight and the Hoosiers to return dwelling. Lewis will begin his new publish after the Bruins end enjoying within the NCAA match.

The Bruins play North Carolina in an East Regional semifinal at 6:39 p.m. PDT Friday on the Wells Fargo Heart.

Lewis, 44, has labored alongside Cronin for all three seasons since Cronin’s arrival in Westwood, serving to the staff attain the Ultimate 4 in 2021. Lewis is credited with the event of the guards, compiling efficient scouting studies and serving to each participant on the staff enhance his free-throw taking pictures.

“He has been an enormous a part of our success during the last three years in Westwood,” Cronin mentioned. “Ball State is getting a rising star in school teaching in coach Lewis. Michael has all the bundle of teaching acumen, participant relation abilities and recruiting chops to construct the Playing cards right into a power within the Mid-American Convention.”

Earlier than coming to UCLA, Lewis had made teaching stops at Nebraska, Butler, Japanese Illinois and Stephen F. Austin after beginning his profession within the career as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech.

After changing into Gatorade state participant of the yr whereas starring at Jasper Excessive in Indiana, Lewis performed for the Hoosiers from 1996-2000. He was Indiana’s all-time chief with 545 assists on the finish of his profession earlier than being surpassed by Yogi Ferrell (633).

Lewis’ deep Indiana ties have been among the many components that made him enticing to Ball State.

“Basketball in our state is personified in Michael Lewis,” Ball State athletic director Beth Goetz mentioned in a press release. “His outlook on the sport, relationship constructing, recruiting community, pedigree and proactive method to engagement with our stakeholders resides at a excessive degree.

“Moreover, his program values and requirements on the court docket, within the classroom and the neighborhood will create a highway map for the Cardinals to maneuver onward, compete for Mid-American Convention titles and place our establishment for a return to the NCAA match.”

Ball State has not made the NCAA match since 2000, shedding to UCLA within the first spherical.