UW Oshkosh men’s basketball head coach Matt Lewis has transformed the Titans into a Division III powerhouse after his fourth NCAA tournament-qualifying team in five years, according to his players and coworkers.
“When I was a freshman, I learned real quick why Oshkosh won a national tournament [in 2019], because coach Lewis is an unbelievable coach,” senior guard Will Mahoney said.
Lewis took over the men’s team in 2019 as interim head coach before accepting the position the following season.
Lewis closed his fifth season as head coach March 11 after the Titans fell to Mount Union 78-67 in the third round of the NCAA tournament.
The game marked the program’s fifth appearance in the Elite Eight. It was Lewis’ second Elite Eight appearance as a UWO head coach, the first of which resulted in the 2019 NCAA Championship victory.
Lewis and the Titans began their quest for a third straight regular season Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last week with their first practices of the 2023-24 season.
Mahoney said he attributes the team’s success to Lewis’ dedication to the school and the university.
“I mean, that man lives and breathes Oshkosh basketball,” he said. “He cares so much about his players and winning and it shows.”
UWO Athletic Director Darryl Sims said Lewis’ commitment and drive made him a clear option for the head coach position when he was hired in 2019.
“It was clear to me that he was a hard worker, had a passion for the job and maintained a relentless pursuit to win,” Sims said.
On top of his work ethic, Lewis has proven he has the ability to curate a skilled and well-rounded team during his time with the Titans, Sims said.
“[Lewis is] a staunch recruiter and [has] a sharp eye for recognizing talented student athletes,” he said. “That has not changed since he was the interim head coach in 2019 until today.”
It’s Lewis’ in-depth research and analytic skills that ensure the team is prepared for upcoming obstacles, Mahoney said.
“I guarantee no coach does the recruiting he does at the level he does it and I know for sure no coach scouts our opponents like he does,” he said. “He has stayed up almost the whole night scouting the team we’re gonna play on days we have to play back to back.”
According to Lewis, the feeling is mutual. Lewis said Titan success in the past several years was earned by students’ talent.
“The success we have had is directly attributed to the student-athletes and assistant coaches,” he said. “Our assistant coaches work very hard to recruit high character, great teammates into our program and then develop them while they are here.”
Lewis said he built off the work of the previous head coach, Pat Juckem, who revitalized the team after a nearly decade-long dry spell with no NCAA tournament qualifications.
“Pat has a gift for connecting with people,” Lewis said. “I spent a ton of time learning how he interacted with those around him in many different settings.”
Learning to communicate effectively with players and coaches has allowed Lewis to form his coaching philosophy, he said.
“I believe in bringing energy and passion to our program,” Lewis said. “Providing confidence and self-belief, while challenging us all to raise our standards.”
After spearheading Titan success for the past five years, Lewis said he has gained a deep appreciation for the program.
“UW Oshkosh is a special place that allows you to recruit high character, great teammates who are also really talented at basketball,” he said. “It was easy to fall in love with this place and our program as we were building it.”
The Titans will kick off their season with a matchup against the Illinois Institute of Technology Nov. 8 at the Kolf Sports Center.