KENT, OHIO- Sean Lewis has signed a contract extension to remain Kent State University's head football coach through the 2025 season. The signing was announced Monday by Kent State Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond.

"We are excited to extend the contract of Head Coach Sean Lewis," Richmond said. "The growth of the Kent State football program during Sean's tenure has been remarkable. Sean has continued to build this program in a fashion that ensures success not just for the present, but for years to come."

At age 35, Lewis remains one of the youngest coaches in Division-I. Under his direction, Kent State has won seven of its last eight games. Highlighting the run, was the four-game streak to end the 2019 season and the first bowl victory in school history in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl. After the 7-6 season in 2019, Lewis guided the Flashes to a 3-1 record in 2020, marking the first back-to-back winning seasons since the 1976 and 1977 campaigns.

"Very exciting day for our FlashFAST family and Kent State University," Head Coach Sean Lewis said. "I've said from the beginning how special this place is, and we are just getting started. We have an amazing staff and a special group of young men here in our locker room. There's still a lot of work to be done to realize all we're capable of doing. I am thrilled to have the long commitment from President Diacon and Randale Richmond. Let's continue to build and elevate this elite football program together."

The Kent State FlashFAST offense has set many records during the Lewis era. Last season, the Golden Flashes led all of Division-I in total offense (606.5 yards per game) and in scoring offense (49.75 points per game). The offense has steadily improved each season under Lewis. In his first season in 2018, the Flashes nearly doubled the team scoring from the previous year (12.8 to 23.9). The Flashes took another step forward in 2019, topping the 5000 total yards mark for the first time since 2012.

Single-game records have also been set during the FlashFAST era. The Golden Flashes rolled up 750 yards of total offense in a 62-20 win over Bowling Green in 2019, which was also the most yards gained against a D-I opponent in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) that season. Kent State tied the program single-game record for points (69) and touchdowns (10) in last year's Wagon Wheel victory over the University of Akron, making back-to-back wins over the Zips for the first time since 2012.

The 2021 squad returns 18 starters from last year's 3-1 COVID-shortened season and has been tapped as the media's preseason favorite in the Mid-American Conference's East Division for the first time in program history. The program has also shined off the field. This season, Kent State has 21 players who have already earned their undergraduate degree, making the Golden Flashes one of 11 FBS teams with at least 20 graduates. In his three seasons, the program has seen the team grade point average rise by over a half a point. 

"I am very proud to witness firsthand Sean's commitment not only to excellence on the field, but his commitment to his student-athletes, our campus and the Kent community. I have no doubt the best is yet to come, and I am excited to see Coach Lewis continue to lead this program to even greater heights," Richmond added.

The Golden Flashes open the 2021 season at Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN U.

Media contact: Dan Griffin | dgriff34@kent.edu | 330-814-5921