ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany and Head Football Coach Greg Gattuso today announced the hiring of Dion Lewis as the team's Assistant Running Backs Coach. In addition, the team announced several positional changes to the coaching staff.
 
"We're very excited to add Dion to our staff," said Gattuso. "He's a great individual, I've known him since our time at Pittsburgh together. He's bringing a wealth of experience from the NFL with him that will really help our team, and our backfield specifically."
 
Lewis, an Albany native, joins the Great Danes after a 10-year NFL career. He was drafted 149^th overall in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles after a collegiate career with the University of Pittsburgh. During his career, Lewis also suited up for the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants.
 
"It's great to be back in the Capital Region," said Lewis. "I'm extremely grateful to join the Great Dane family. I'd like to extend my thanks to Coach Gattuso, the entire football staff, and Mark Benson for welcoming me. I'm excited to get to work and hit the ground running with this group."
 
Lewis was a member of the 2016 Patriots team that won the Super Bowl. That year, he played in seven games, starting in five. He became the first player in NFL history to score rushing, receiving, and kickoff return touchdowns in a playoff game, helping New England defeat the Houston Texans, 34-16, in the AFC divisional round.
 
The running back's best season came during the 2017 campaign with the Patriots – playing in all 16 games and rushing for 896 yards with six rushing touchdowns, three receiving touchdowns, and one touchdown on a kickoff return. For his entire career, he totaled 2,425 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 1,408 receiving yards, and eight receiving touchdowns.
 
In addition to Lewis joining the team, multiple individuals on the coaching staff now sport new titles. The complete staff lines up as follows:
 
Greg Gattuso              Head Coach (10^th Season)
Jared Ambrose           Associate Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach
Bill Nesselt                  Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach
Joe Bernard                Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach
Will Fiacchi                  Wide Receivers Coach / Passing Game Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator
Jordan Orlovsky          Running Backs Coach / Chief of Staff
Peter Davila                Safeties Coach
Darrin Walls                Co-Defensive Coordinator / Cornerbacks Coach
Chris Calabrese           Outside Linebackers Coach
Brendan Smith            Tight Ends Coach
Jacob Alsadek             Offensive Line Coach
Dion Lewis                   Assistant Running Backs Coach
Jon Simmons              Director of Football Operations / Video Coordinator
Jake Kulig                    Defensive Assistant
Matt Campion            Volunteer Offensive Coach
 
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