EX-OSU player Lewis to coach Kilbourne
Ron Lewis still gets the same feeling as a coach as he did when he played.
After coaching at the AAU level since 2014 and as an assistant with the Worthington Kilbourne boys basketball program this past season, the former Ohio State standout and Brookhaven graduate was named the Wolves’ head coach, pending school board approval.
“I love teaching kids, growing kids in the right direction,” Lewis said. “Once I got into AAU, it really, really made me love it just because of that excitement. I get that same type of energy as a coach as when I (was) about to play. (Coaching has) been a passion of mine.”
Lewis learned the ropes at the high school level this winter under longtime coach Tom Souder.
Souder retired after going 213-269 in 22 seasons. He earned state Coach of the Year honors in 2021, when the Wolves went 17-5 and won their first league title.
“I’m so excited for him and I know he’s excited,” Souder said. “I couldn’t be happier. I’m happy for the kids, I’m happy for Ron, I’m happy for his family. I’m just really tickled.”
Kilbourne went 10-12 overall and 8-6 in the Occ-capital Division last season.
“I learned a lot (from Souder),” Lewis said. “Talking to him, picking his brain, watching him prepare for practice, watching him prepare for games. He did a great job of being very organized and being prepared. That’s what I really learned from him.”
Lewis’ son, Te’mar, played as a sophomore, averaging 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds as a guard.
Lewis played professionally overseas for 14 seasons, most recently with SLUC Nancy Basket in France, where he averaged 15.4 points, 3.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds over 33 games in 2021.
Collegiately, he played two seasons at Bowling Green before transferring to Ohio State. He averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in four seasons.