SAN DIEGO – Head women's basketball coach Stacie Terry-Hutson has announced the hiring of Kellie Lewis to her staff as an assistant coach. Lewis was most recently at Colorado State (2018-21) and comes to SDSU with 17 years of DI experience, including five as the head coach at Florida Atlantic (2012-17).
Lewis also spent a combined nine years at Nebraska (2007-12) and Washington (2003-17) as an assistant while also coordinating each program's recruiting efforts. In her career, Lewis has coached in the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 (then Pac-10), Conference USA and Sun Belt.
"Kellie is a great addition to our staff," Terry-Hutson said. "She comes to our program with a wealth of experience, both an assistant and head coach, and aligns with our culture and the emphasis we put on the developing student-athletes for life after basketball."
"From the first conversation I had with Stacie, I could tell our visions aligned and that I would love to be a part of her program," Lewis said. "I can't wait to get started, to meet the players and help the program in any way possible. I am excited to be an Aztec and am ready to get to work."
During Lewis' last two years at Colorado State, the Rams were second in the nation for fewest turnovers per game. Last season, CSU went 15-6 overall and 11-5 in the Mountain West and ranked in top ten nationally in four categories (turnovers/game, assist-to-turnover ratio, three-point percentage and defensive rebounds/game).
Lewis coached a high-scoring offense throughout her tenure as head coach of Florida Atlantic, including the program's No. 2 all-time single-season scoring offense both by total points (2,331) and average (77.7) in 2013-14. Her teams made 195 three-pointers or more in four of her five seasons and broke the school record for threes in a season twice. The Owls sunk 264 triples in 2013-14, then 294 in 2015-16, a Conference USA record.
In addition to those single-season three-point field goal records, FAU also set the program record for highest team three-point field goal percentage (.350) in 2015-16. Among other records set under Lewis' guidance were C-USA's single-game three-point field goals record (20 vs. UTEP on March 5, 2014) and steals (33 vs. Florida Memorial on Nov. 16, 2013).
Prior to her head coaching position at Florida Atlantic, Lewis was an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at Nebraska for five seasons. The Huskers reached the postseason three times during her tenure and won its first and only Big 12 title with a 32-2 (16-0 conference) record in 2009-10. Among her recruiting accomplishments at Nebraska was signing a top-25 class in 2011, the highest during then-head coach Connie Yori's tenure, as well as the signing of Lindsey Moore, the 2009 Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Washington.
Lewis was an assistant at Washington for four years (2003-07), working under June Daugherty, who she played for at Boise State. While at UW, she helped the Huskies reach consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. She also coordinated recruiting efforts at UW, and in 2006, the Huskies signed a six-player class that was rated eighth in the nation by Blue Star Basketball.
Prior to coaching collegiately, Lewis was the head coach at Bishop Kelly High School (Boise, Idaho) and of the Idaho Elite, a club team that she co-founded. Her high school squads won three district titles and reached the state title game in 2002. Lewis, who was 87-33 as a high school coach, also led the Idaho Elite to the Midsummer Night's Madness Tournament title that year. 25 members of that club team were tabbed all-state over her tenure, while 12 signed with Division I programs.
Lewis was a two-time captain and Big West honoree as a student-athlete at Boise State and set the then-program record for made three-pointers in a season. Lewis is still No. 4 all-time at BSU for career free throw percentage (.807).
An outstanding all-around player, Lewis led the Broncos in six categories during her junior season including scoring (12.2 ppg), field goals made (107), three-pointers made (76), free-throw percentage (.765), assists (69) and steals (48).
During Lewis' time at BSU, she was a four-time all-conference all-academic selection and was given the Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar Athlete Award twice.
Lewis was valedictorian of her class at Placer High School (Auburn, Calif.) and helped lead them to four Sierra Foothill League Championships. She was named league MVP as a senior, was a three-time all-league selection and became the first women's basketball player to be inducted into her school's athletic hall of fame.
Lewis graduated from Boise State in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in social science/public affairs with an emphasis in sociology and psychology. She has one daughter, Kobie.
The Lewis File
Hometown: Auburn, Calif.
Education: Boise State (Social Science/Public Affairs, 1998)
Lewis' Previous Coaching Experience:
2018-21 – Assistant Coach, Colorado State
2012-17 – Head Coach, Florida Atlantic
2007-12 – Assistant Coach, Nebraska
2003-07 – Assistant Coach, Washington
1998-03 – Head Coach, Bishop Kelly High School (Boise, Idaho)
1999-03 – Head Coach/Co-Founder, Idaho Elite