STANDISH, Maine - After 19 seasons roaming the sidelines at Saint Joseph's College, Rupert Lewis–the winningest coach in field hockey program history–has announced that he will be stepping away at the end of the month.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had at St. Joe's," said Lewis. "Working with such a talented and dedicated group of student-athletes has been an honor and a privilege. I am proud of the progress we have made together over the years, and I have no doubt that the team will continue to thrive under new leadership."
Coach Lewis leaves behind a legacy at Saint Joseph's College that includes not only mentorship of countless SJC student-athletes but a run of competitive success on the field as well. Winning 224 career contests, Lewis guided the field hockey program to four consecutive conference championships between 2016 and 2019. In a ten year stretch from 2009 to 2019, Lewis was named 'Coach of the Year' on five occasions. In his seven years (2008 & 2009, 2015 - 2019) leading the women's lacrosse program, the Monks made their first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2015, the first of two consecutive perfect (9-0) regular seasons in the GNAC.
"I am incredibly grateful and appreciative of Coach Lewis for all that he has given to the field hockey program, the women's lacrosse program, the athletics department and the Saint Joseph's College community," said Associate Vice President/Chief Athletics & Recreation Officer, Will Rothermel. "He has committed so much of his heart and soul to Saint Joseph's and all the students he has coached over the 19 years he has been at the College. He will be deeply missed as a member of our coaching staff and team member of our athletics department, but he will of course always be a Monk!"
With a coaching philosophy based on stout defensive play and a balanced offensive attack, Lewis has built a program that routinely competes for a conference title. In 10 years in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), in addition to the four consecutive tournament titles, Lewis led the Monks to three regular season crowns (2014, 2018, 2019) with an incredible 60-14 (.811) in-conference record. In 2016, his team advanced to and won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history after posting a thrilling 1-0 victory at Montclair State - ranked 10th nationally at the time.
"The opportunity to serve as a coach at Saint Joseph's has been immensely rewarding, and I will always cherish the memories and lessons learned," continued Lewis. "I wish the team continued success both on and off the field. I have every confidence that they will achieve great things in the future."
A 1982 University of Southern Maine graduate, Lewis kicked off his coaching career as an Assistant Field Hockey Coach for the Huskies from 1984 to 1991. In that role, he proved instrumental in helping the Field Hockey program to get to their first NCAA Division III national tournament.
In addition to coaching field hockey, Lewis is a nationally licensed soccer coach and has played semi-professionally in Massachusetts where he made the All-Massachusetts Select Travel Team. He was also the Assistant Coach for the University of Southern Maine's 2004 Men's Soccer Team.
Lewis has a distinguished and winning soccer playing resume as well, and he earned NCAA DIII All-State, All-District, All-Region, and Honorable Mention All-America honors while starring on the pitch for the University of Southern Maine. Lewis helped lead the Huskies to an NAIA District 5 Championship in 1979, a pair of trips to the NAIA Final Four, and a 52-19-7 (.732) composite record during his four years.
In 2010, Lewis earned personal accolades for his efforts as a men's soccer player at University of Southern Maine when he was inducted into the Huskies' Hall of Fame.
He has played and coached for a number of southern Maine summer soccer teams, winning both the Division I and II leagues numerous times. Lewis also coached the 2003 U-14 Boys Premier Club for Maine Metro in Portland, Maine.
Coach Lewis is a native of Jamaica, where he began his illustrious career in field hockey and soccer. While in high school in Jamaica, he represented his country nationally in both sports. During his senior year, he played and coached his high school team through a winning season at Cornwall College High School located in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
A search for the next coach of the Saint Joseph's College field hockey program will begin immediately.
