According to several reports, including from ESPN's Pete Thamel, San Diego State has zeroed in on Colorado offensive coordinator and former Kent State head coach Sean Lewis as its replacement for retiring head coach Brady Hoke.
Lewis served as the Buffaloes' primary playcaller for the first eight games of the season before an abrupt move to promote analyst Pat Shurmur to the role while naming the former NFL coach as the co-offensive coordinator alongside Lewis amid struggles on that side of the ball.
Under Lewis, the Colorado offense emerged as one of the top passing offenses in the country this season. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders led the FBS in passing yards for a big portion of the season and finished the fall inside the top 10, nationally, with 293.6 yards passing per game.
Sanders had 27 passing touchdowns and just 3 interceptions this season with Lewis as his quarterbacks coach.
Colorado had difficulties getting the running game going throughout the season, but at Kent State Lewis had Golden Flashes ranked 22nd among all FBS teams in rushing offense with over 200 yards per game on the ground.
Kent State ranked 64th overall in scoring offense in 2022 and 41st in total offense.
The Wisconsin alum had also been key in bringing quarterback talent to Boulder in what is expected to be a short stint with Colorado, including landing four-star 2025 quarterback Antwann Hill who backed off his commitment to the program this week.
Colorado's lone 2024 quarterback commit, Indianapolis-based three-star Danny O'Neil, also announced his decommitment from the program this week potentially signaling a move for Lewis.
In Lewis, the Aztecs would add someone with head coaching experience. He became the youngest head coach at the FBS level in 2017 when he was hired to lead Kent State's program at just 31 years old.
He spent five seasons leading the Golden Flashes and currently holds a 24-31 record as a head coach.
His career began as an offensive coordinator at Richards High School in Illinois in 2008 before he moved on to become the tight ends coach at Nebraska Omaha. After stints at Akron, Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green, Lewis' first Power Five position came as a co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Syracuse beginning in 2016.
The Aztecs are looking to replace Hoke after his second stint with the program came to a close Saturday with a 33-18 win over Fresno State at Snapdragon Stadium. Hoke announced his plans to retire at the end of the season with just two games left to play.
SDSU struggled offensively this season and ranks 107th among 130 eligible FBS teams and 116th with 171.8 yards per game. The Aztecs averaged just 20.5 points this season and included being shut out by Nevada back in October.
Hoke finished his time as SDSU's head coach with a 40-32 record.
