Defensive line coach Lewis Powell is gaining a reputation as a talented recruiter while also mentoring one of the Mountain West’s top units.
Last season, the defensive line helped UH rank No. 3 nationally in tackles for loss, averaging 8.3 per game. Beau Yap led the unit with 5.5 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss and was named all-MW second team.
In 2012, his first season as a full-time assistant coach, Powell learned a lesson in perseverance as his unit was plagued with injuries throughout the season, with four players suffering season-ending injuries. Still, several players shined including defensive end Paipai Falemalu, who earned all-MW second-team honors and Tavita Woodard, who received all-MW honorable mention.
Born in Honolulu, Powell came to UH from the University of Utah, where he was a player and graduate assistant. Powell spent three years on the Utah coaching staff, two as a graduate assistant from 2009-10 and 2011 as an administrative assistant, the latter of which he coached with then-Utes offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Powell was part of three bowl teams at Utah – 2009’s San Diego Poinsettia Bowl, 2010’s Maaco Las Vegas Bowl and 2011’s Sun Bowl.
As a player, Powell was a three-year letterman on the defensive line playing both end and tackle positions for the Utes from 2001-03. He was the 2003 Liberty Bowl Defensive Player of the Game in Utah’s 17-0 victory over Southern Miss. The Utes finished the season with a 10-2 record and as Mountain West Conference champions.
During the 2002 season, Powell played in all 11 games and finished with three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception.
Following his collegiate career, Powell appeared in camp with the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and played in the Arena Football League as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Memphis Xplorers (2005) and Utah Blaze (2006-08).
Powell is married to the former Levalasi Key and they both reside in Honolulu.
The Powell File
Hometown: East Palo Alto, Calif.
Education
Utah, 2004, Bachelor’s in Sociology
Playing Experience
2006-08: Utah (AFL), Offensive/Defensive Line
2005: Memphis (AFL), Offensive/Defensive Line
2001-04: Utah, Defensive Line
Coaching Experience
2012-: Hawai‘i, Defensive Line
2011: Utah, Administrative Assistant
2009-10: Utah, Graduate Assistant
