Sean Lewis has tendered his immediate resignation as head football coach at Kent State, ending a five-year run as head coach of the Golden Flashes.
“We want to thank Coach Lewis and his family for five years of hard work, leadership and dedication. Kent State had tremendous success on the field and in the classroom under his guidance,” Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond stated. “A national search for the next head coach of the Golden Flashes is underway as we look to continue to take the program to new heights while we graduate student-athletes, boldly prepared for life after sport and win championships.”
Lewis and his staff guided the Golden Flashes to the program’s first-ever bowl win, a 51-41 triumph over Utah State in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Caf? Frisco Bowl. That 2019 season started a three-year stretch where the Flashes finished .500 or better, a mark that hadn’t been accomplished since 1972-74 under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Don James. Highlighting that streak was a 2021 Mid-American Conference East Division crown and the program’s second trip to the conference title game.
The Flashes also excelled in the classroom during his five-year tenure. The program posted the highest cumulative grade-point average and spring-term average under his guidance. In each of the last two years, the Flashes have had over 20 players on the roster who had already earned their undergraduate degree, one of the top marks in the FBS.
Mike Morrow, ’76, Inducted Into WGCA Coaches Hall of Fame
Mike Morrow, ’76, former Kent State head women's golf coach, officially became the 54th member of the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Coaches Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas.
As a Kent State alumnus and former All-American for the men's golf team, Morrow took the reins and developed the Golden Flashes' women's program from the ground up in 1997. His teams dominated the Mid-American Conference with championships in all 14 of his seasons at the helm. The 2001 Golfweek National Coach of the Year and two-time Central Region Coach of the Year led Kent State to four NCAA Championship appearances and 12 NCAA Regional appearances.
He was inducted into the Varsity "K" Hall of Fame in 1987.
Gary Pinkel, ’75, Inducted to College Football Hall of Fame
Prior to becoming a head coach, Pinkel was an all-conference and honorable mention All-American tight end at Kent State, playing for future College Football Hall of Fame Coach Don James. Pinkel worked as an assistant under James at Washington for 12 years, including the Huskies' 1991 national championship team. He also served as an assistant at Kent State and Bowling Green.
Pinkel has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including State of Missouri Sports, St. Louis Sports Commission, Mid-American Conference, Toledo Athletics, Kent State Athletics and Kenmore High School. Active in the community, he created the GP Made Foundation to help youth facing difficult challenges, and he has raised more than $10 million for charitable causes.
The NCAA Evaluation Tool (formely RPI), includes statistics comprised of three components: a team’s winning percentage, average opponent’s winning percentage and average opponent’s opponent’s winning percentage.
It takes into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency and the quality of wins and losses.
If this results-driven, predictive metric tells us anything, the Flashes are off to a great start this year at 6-3.
Women’s Team Receives Highest Ranking Ever for the Mid Major Top 25
Kent State visited Duquesne on Wednesday for its final road game of the non-conference schedule.
Despite dropping a close contest, the Golden Flashes (5-3) cracked the top 10 for the first time ever in the Mid Major Top 25. Ganzaga and Drake are the only other two schools who have both programs in the top 10.
Women’s basketball will be home for three straight games to conclude the rest of the December schedule before opening conference play at home vs. Buffalo on Jan. 4, 2023.
Pitching for Precision on the Mound and in the Lab
Richie Dell, a senior molecular biology major, has navigated the last three years as a Kent State Honors College student as well as a pitcher for the Kent State Baseball team. With extra coursework from Honors classes and playing a Division I sport, he always has to be in tip-top shape - whether on the pitching mound or in the classroom.
Completing school work while playing a Division I collegiate sport can be difficult to manage. Dell says that his key to success is getting into a groove. “I’m super routine oriented. Our coaches preach that a lot. Every day is pretty much the same. The only thing that really changes is my class schedule.”
Translating Success in the Classroom onto the Field
In recent decades, the game of lacrosse has grown in popularity, especially among high school and college populations. In spring 2018, the Kent State Women’s Lacrosse team became the first new women’s Division I sport to be added to Kent State University’s roster since women’s golf was added nearly two decades prior. As one might imagine, a new sports team has much to prove, and these collegiate student-athletes are no different, with attempts to validate themselves both on the field and in the classroom each day. Junior Taylor Monturo and seniors Allison Kortowich and Kenzie Sklar are all members of the Kent State Women’s Lacrosse team, as well as students in the Honors College.
The Future Flashes Kids Club is an exclusive club for children 12 years old and younger. The program provides youth the opportunity to interact with the Golden Flashes through events and game day activities. Membership benefits include free admission to select Kent State sporting events when wearing VIP credentials, kids club days at home events, birthday shoutouts and more!
Limited-edition courtside chairs, signed by the 2022-23 Kent State Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, are now available for purchase. Get a piece of what promises to be an exciting and historical season for both teams. Plus, the chairs make a great holiday gift for you or a Flash family fan!
Each chair will be sold for $350, or you can purchase a set of two for $500. Chair sales will benefit the men’s and women’s basketball enhancement fund. Chairs will be available for pickup at any upcoming December home basketball game or by appointment.
If you have any questions or want to schedule a pick-up time, please email The Golden Flashes Club or call 330-672-2078.
