NOTES: Young head coach leaving Legacy for collegiate position

When Ray Lewis was hired as the boys and girls volleyball coach at Legacy, he wasn’t old enough to legally drink alcohol.

Two years later, at age 22, Lewis guided the Longhorns’ boys team to the Division I state title in 2014.

Now, after four years at the school, the precocious coach is ready for a new challenge.

Lewis said this week he will step down at the end of the boys’ season and will make the jump to coaching at the collegiate level.

The 24-year-old Lewis accepted a position as an assistant coach for the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Arizona) women’s program and also will assist the men’s program at Benedictine University, an NAIA school in nearby Mesa, Arizona.

“For me, ultimately my end goal is to be a (Division I) coach down the road,” Lewis said. “This seemed like a good opportunity and a step in the right direction for me.

“It’s going to be incredibly tough. I invested my whole entire heart and soul into the (Legacy) programs. That’s the hardest part, leaving the kids, to be honest.”

Lewis was only 20 when he took over at Legacy in 2012. After missing the postseason in his first season, he led the Longhorns’ girls volleyball program to three straight Division I Sunset Region tournament berths.

Legacy advanced to the Sunset Region semifinals in 2014 and went 24-9 last fall, losing in the first round of the region tournament.

But it was with Legacy’s boys program that Lewis enjoyed the most success. The Longhorns had never finished above .500 before Lewis’ arrival, but went 18-6 in his first season in 2013.

The following season, Legacy compiled a 28-3 record and swept Las Vegas 3-0 to claim the Division I state championship.

“Turning Legacy around is one of my most proud moments,” Lewis said.

Lewis has a 68-36 record with the boys program, including a 3-20 (0-5 Southwest League) mark this season as the Longhorns returned only two starters from a team that went 19-7 and finished as the Division I state runner-up in 2015.

The Longhorns have three matches remaining and will conclude their season May 5 at home against Bishop Gorman.

“When I came into head coaching, I was hoping to be successful and hoping for big things,” Lewis said. “To accomplish what we have is beyond my expectations and has been phenomenal.

“The positive impact I’ve been able to make as a young coach, not many 21-year-olds can do that, and I’m grateful for that opportunity.”

■ RECENT COMMITMENTS — Bishop Gorman seniors Brian Coffey to New Mexico and Marques Paige to South Mountain Community College (Arizona), Faith Lutheran senior Kanoa Flynn and Legacy senior Austin Michals to Dominican University (Illinois), and Arbor View seniors Tyler Conner and Brandon Stevens and Shadow Ridge senior Kyle Gaura to Taft College (California) for baseball.

Coronado senior Jake DesJardins to Arizona as a preferred walk-on for men’s basketball. … Arbor View senior Curtis Jones to Mount St. Joseph University (Ohio) and Cimarron-Memorial senior Michael Soukup to Concordia University (Wisconsin) for football. … Green Valley senior McKayla Hilton to Brigham Young for women’s gymnastics. … Northwest Tech/Shadow Ridge senior Eadara Files to Angelo State (Texas) for women’s volleyball.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ