A familiar face is returning to SMU to take the reins of Director of Basketball Operations. As reported by smumustangs.com, SMU men’s basketball coach Matt Doherty announced on Thursday that Gerald Lewis, a former SMU basketball player, will be returning to the Hilltop to take the position. 

Doherty, in an interview with smumustangs.com, said, “I am thrilled that Gerald has joined our staff. He is an experienced Division I coach that has come from a winning environment. More importantly, he represents everything I want in our student-athletes as he has done it here at SMU, on and off the court.”

While attending SMU from 1989-1993, Lewis was an All-Southwest Conference selection and helped lead the Mustangs to the 1993 SWC championship and NCAA tournament. Lewis has had a decorated career, including a six-year professional career in Europe where he was a five-time all-star while playing for Eijeka and Zadar, Croatia from 1994-2000.

Lewis also has five years of coaching experience in the collegiate ranks. He has spent the last four seasons at New Mexico State – first as director of basketball operations and coordinator of player development and then as an assistant coach in 2010-2011.

Before his stint with the Aggies, Lewis was an assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana in 2004-2005. That squad made its first NCAA tournament appearance in school history.