Osia Lewis, a former Tucson High standout and longtime college football coach, died on Sunday following a battle with liver cancer. He was 57.
Lewis initially joined Vanderbilt as a senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach in 2016, but after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, he became a senior defensive analyst and special consultant to focus on treatment and chemotherapy.
“Osia Lewis was a special man,” Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said in a press release. “His wisdom, love, honesty, truth and faith based views truly set him apart. He was a fox-hole teacher who made you better just being around him.”
Before he was a three-year starter and All-Pac-10 selection at Oregon State, Lewis was an All-City linebacker and team captain for the Tucson High Badgers in 1981.
After his football-playing career finished, Lewis joined the coaching ranks and became a defensive assistant coach at OSU, New Mexico, UTEP, San Diego State and Vanderbilt.
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Lewis is survived by his wife, Darlene, son, Marvin and daughter, Kiana.
Contact sports content producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter @justinesports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
