DETROIT — When Scot Loeffler was hired as Bowling Green State University’s football coach, he wanted to bring consistency to the program.
He believed that if a position amongst his staff were to be vacated, the first place BGSU football would begin its search process was internally.
“We always said that if someone left, we're generally going to try to hire within,” the third-year Falcons coach said at the Mid American Conference football media day. “And if we do hire from outside, it's got to be people that are so like-minded.”
Under that philosophy, along with the bonus of 17 years of NCAA and NFL coaching experience, Loeffler promoted BGSU cornerbacks coach Eric Lewis to the Falcons’ defensive coordinator position this past spring.
Lewis previously held the same title at Eastern Michigan (2009) and Weber State (2012 to 2013).
He’s familiar with the young Falcons football players, and his experience with the team and the conference will help guide the youngest college football roster in the country.
“He knows all the players,” junior safety Jordan Anderson said. “He knows our secondary, as well. He can really tell what's going on, and he knows what he's talking about as far as his philosophy of it all. So that really helps us.”
Lewis had previous stints at 11 colleges and one season in the NFL (Green Bay Packers defensive quality control coach, 2006 to 2007). His long list of coaching experience included three stops at MAC schools (EMU, 2009; Ball State, 2003 to 2005; and Buffalo, 2014) and four Power 5 programs (Michigan State, Louisville, Tennessee, and Boston College).
“He's a high-energy guy that holds people accountable, but is understanding,” Loeffler said. “He has more patience than I do, let's just put it that way, which is good. But he's a really good coach.”
The NCAA provided an extra year of eligibility to fall sports athletes last season due to the impact coronavirus had on their schedules. MAC football competed in a six-game, conference-only schedule, but players gained a year of experience without losing a year of eligibility.
Lewis is taking over the job after former defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder announced his retirement from college coaching in March.
Things for the BGSU defense can only go up. Last season, the Falcons allowed a league-worst 45 points per game. They also ranked near the bottom of the conference in total defense (492.0) and rushing defense (310.2). But with Lewis’ help, BGSU did rank No. 2 in the league in pass defense (165.6).
Lewis has a previous track record of revamping programs’ defenses. At Colorado State (2018), he helped the Rams move up 28 spots in the nation for pass defense.
As the secondary and special teams coordinator for Georgia State, Lewis turned the Panthers into one of the most improved defenses in the NCAA. The Panthers’ defense saw a decrease in points per game allowed (15 points per game fewer compared to the previous season) and surrendered the least amount of passing touchdowns in the FBS (8).
In his first stint as a defensive coordinator, with Eastern Michigan in 2009, Lewis’ defense allowed 150.1 passing yards per game, the fewest in the nation.
“He's bringing out the energy in our defense that we love to see,” Anderson said. “He's bringing a lot of schemes and stuff that's going to be great for us and fits around our program. He has a vision for our whole defense, and we all bought into it.”
The Falcons’ defensive approach for this season is simple.
“There's no doubt we'll be a multiple coverage team,” Loeffler said, “but we're going to be aggressive.”
Lewis was not made available for comment due to team rules.
First Published July 23, 2021, 4:08 p.m.
