Sources: San Diego St

• Pete Thamel, ESPNNov 28, 2023, 04:41 PM ET

San Diego State has targeted Colorado offensive planner Sean Lewis as the school’s next head coach, sources informed ESPN on Tuesday. A deal is anticipated to be settled in the near future.Lewis provides an antidote to SDSU’s recent history of vanilla offenses as he brings a history of offenses with hypertempo and prolific production.San Diego State completed lower than No. 100 nationally in scoring offense, passing offense and overall offense this season. The Aztecs finished 4-8 and coach Brady Hoke announced his retirement. San Diego State hasn’t completed in the Top 75 nationally in scoring offense because 2017. Lewis’history as a head coach, playcaller and desire to extend the field were all appealing to San Diego State. Lewis had significant need in both the head-coaching market and the high-end offensive coordinator market during this cycle, per sources, regardless of his demotion from playcaller late in the season at Colorado.Lewis, 37, led Kent State to two bowl games in five years, doubling the school’s overall of bowl looks in its history. He likewise provided the school’s very first bowl win, beating Jordan Love-led Utah State 51-41 in the 2019 Frisco Bowl.Lewis’ offenses at Kent State were amongst the most explosive in the sport throughout his 5 seasons. In the conference-only 2020 season, Kent finished No. 1 nationally in backyards per game (606.5)and points per game(49.8 ). Lewis ‘teams at Kent State were known for large splits, however they also ran effectively and efficiently when the program’s workers determined they might do so.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated San Diego State went into the training market looking for some sizzle, as it had been coached by somebody with a defensive background since 2009.

While San Diego

State became a consistent winner with a blue-collar image, the program typically lacked vibrant offenses in recent years.San Diego State, which has actually been vocal about looking for a conference promotion, opened Snapdragon Arena in 2022. The arena expense more than$ 300 million and is considered one of the essential pieces for athletic director JD Wicker to assist the Aztecs enter into a power conference.San Diego State officials hope that the Lewis’groups can develop enjoyment to demand a complete stadium, as the Aztecs lost 8 of their final 10 games this year and assistance waned.Lewis left the head-coaching job at Kent after the 2022 season for Colorado’s offensive organizer task in part to help position himself for a better head-coaching job.Lewis ended up 24-31 at Kent State, however the challenges there included dealing with a nonconference schedule that included 3 power-conference road games every year. In 2022, for instance, Kent State played roadway games at Washington, Oklahoma and Georgia in September.

In 2021 it was Texas A&M, Iowa and Maryland.He discovered success in the MAC with an 18-10 league record in his final 4 years there.Before Kent State, Lewis worked as the co-offensive planner at Syracuse and also worked on personnels for Dino Babers at Bowling Green and Eastern Illinois.He played collegiately at Wisconsin under Barry

Alvarez and then-offensive organizer Paul Chryst, playing both quarterback and tight end.