Former Cecil Men's Basketball Coach Accepts Position at University of New Orleans
October 8, 2009
UNO Head coach Joe Pasternack (above) has named William Lewit as an assistant coach
NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans basketball team has named William Lewit as an assistant coach, it was announced on Wednesday by head coach Joe Pasternack.
One of the top junior college coaches in the country, Lewit brings 14 years of head coaching experience to UNO.
"This is just a tremendous hire for us," said Pasternack, who will enter his third year on the Lakefront in 2009-10. "He did an incredible job at Cecil, and to have another coach on our staff with head coaching experience is a huge benefit."
At UNO, Lewit will be the recruiting coordinator and will assist in all aspects in the program.
Lewit comes to UNO after spending 14 years at Cecil College in North East, Md. He led the Seahawks to six Maryland JUCO regular season championships, five state tournament championships and six Region XX titles.
He also guided Cecil to the NJCAA Division II national championship in 2006.
The Seahawks won 21 or more games in each of the last 12 years, with the last five years being 31 wins or more. The school had an 80-game winning streak against Maryland JUCO opponents.
The Red Bank, N.J., native was the national coach of the year in '06 and combined for 15 Maryland JUCO and regional coach of the year honors.
Under his leadership, Lewit had 39 student-athletes sign Division I scholarships, while 30 earned DII scholarships.
Along with his coaching duties, Lewit was also the school's Director of Enrollment and Student Activities and also served as an adjunt faculty member.
"His basketball credentials are obviously outstanding," Pasternack said. "But what is even more impressive is 62 of his 68 sophomores graduated. He is dedicated to developing basketball players, but he wants them to succeed in life."
"Academic Excellence and Student Success"
Cecil College Men's Basketball Accomplishments under William Lewit (1995-2009)
#'s
354 354 wins and 67 loses the last 13 years (96-09)
190 190 wins and 15 losses the last 6 years (03-09)
162 162 wins and 11 losses the last 5 years (04-09)
134 134 wins and 8 losses at home vs. all opponents the last 11 years (98-09)
118 118 wins and 2 losses at home vs. non-Division I opponents the last 11 years (98-09)
116 116 wins and 3 loses vs. Maryland JUCO opponents the last 5 years (04-09)
84 84 consecutive wins vs. region opponents from January 29, 2005 through March 1, 2008
81 81 game home winning streak vs. non-Division I opponents from February 3, 1999 to December 21, 2006
80 80 consecutive wins vs. MD JUCO opponent from January 29, 2005 through February 25, 2008
72 72 regular season game winning streak vs. Maryland JUCO opponents from January 29, 2005 to present
67 67 regular season game winning streak December 22, 2006 to present
58 58 wins and 5 losses in the month of November the last 12 years (97-09)
40 40 game home winning streak December 22, 2006 to present
24 24 consecutive wins vs. Division I opponents from 9 different states from December 22, 2006 through February 11, 2009
- NJCAA Division II National Title: 2006
- Finished #1 in final NJCAA Division II national ranking: 2006, 2007 and 2008
- Earned the nation's No. 1 ranking eight years: 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009
- Finished #2 in final NJCAA Division II national ranking: 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2009
- Seven Maryland JUCO Regular Season Titles: 1988, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009
- Five straight Maryland JUCO State Tournament Titles: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
- Six Region Titles: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009
- Nine Holiday Tournament titles: 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008
- One Region XX Tip Off Tournament title: 2005 (only participated in one)
- Three Unofficial Thanksgiving Tournament Championships (undefeated in 3 mixers) 2006 (NC), 2007 (AZ) and 2008 (KS) (only participated in four)
- Two National Scoring Titles: 1997 (101.7 PPG) and 2004 (104.9 PPG)
- From 1999 to 2009, 62 out of 68 sophomores have earned their degree at Cecil College
- 100% Academic Eligibility and Retention for the past 14 years
- 39 student-athletes have signed Division I basketball scholarships to four-year colleges and universities.
- 30 student-athletes have signed Division II scholarships to four-year colleges and universities.
- Conduct Summer Basketball camps and Winter Basketball Clinics for over 300 youths
