ESPY Award winner Greg Lewis was the San José State University wide receivers coach during the 2013 season. He joined the coaching staff in January 2013.
In his one season with the Spartans, his players, senior Chandler Jones and freshman Tyler Winston, were All-Mountain West Conference honorees. Jones was a first-team selection with 79 receptions for 1,356 yards and a single-season school-record 15 touchdown catches. Jones also established a new University record for career TD receptions with 29.
Despite starting only eight games, Winston was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. He finished 2013 with 58 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns. Winston led all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) freshmen with four games of 100 or more receiving yards.
In all, four San Jose State wide receivers finished the 2013 season with at least 100 career receptions. Jones and team captain Noel Grigsby completed their college careers with 248 and 237 receptions, respectively.
Lewis began his coaching career in 2012 as a summer intern with the Philadelphia Eagles. He then joined Ron Caragher[apos]s University of San Diego staff as the Toreros[apos] wide receivers coach for the 2012 college season. In his first season of coaching, his three leading receivers combined for 144 receptions and 15 of the Toreros[apos] 20 touchdown receptions on a team that produced an 8-3 win-loss record.
As a player, Lewis was a wide receiver for eight seasons in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles (2003-08) and the Minnesota Vikings (2009-10). During his NFL career, he caught 152 passes for 1,992 yards and eight touchdowns. His most productive season was in 2005 when he caught 48 passes for 561 yards.
The native of Chicago won a 2010 ESPY for his September 27, 2009 game-winning touchdown reception with two seconds remaining in the Minnesota Vikings[apos] 27-24 comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers. He shared the award for Best Play with quarterback Brett Favre who delivered the pass to Lewis in the back of the end zone.
The 2002 University of Illinois graduate played the 1999 through 2002 seasons for the Fight Illini. His 103 receptions ranked eighth on the University[apos]s career receiving list at the completion of his college career. His 1,456 receiving yards was 10th best at Illinois heading into the 2012 season.
He and his wife, Tamika, have two sons, Sonny and Gavin.