Northeast Mississippi Community College Athletics

Mike Lewis continued the winning tradition that men's basketball fans of Northeast Mississippi Community College have come to expect each season.

Lewis compiled a 206-135 record in 12 years as the head coach of the Tigers. His tenure in Booneville saw the Alcorn County native win multiple awards and lead Northeast back to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament.

The 1994-95 edition caught on fire and won 16 of its last 20 games and qualified for the trip to Hutchinson, Kan., by winning the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

Five years later, magic struck again for Lewis and Northeast. The Tigers swept through the 1999-2000 campaign as champions of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division, the MACJC State Tournament and the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

Northeast's second excursion to the NJCAA National Tournament under Lewis saw the Tigers finish in eighth place. After the season, Lewis was named the Region 23 Coach of the Year for guiding Northeast to a 30-6 overall record.

Overall, he won four MACJC North Division Tournament titles (1993, 1994, 1995, 2000) and two MACJC State Tournament championships (1994, 2000) to go with his National Tournament appearances.

Lewis rose to prominence on the baseball diamond and not the hardwood as a player. He was a main member of the 1970 Tiger team that won the Mississippi Community College Conference North Division title and lost in a one-game playoff to Perkinston Junior College.

His prowess on the ballfield led Lewis to continue his playing career at Delta State University under legendary coach David "Boo" Ferriss. The 1972 Statesman team finished second in the Gulf South Conference Tournament and defeated NCAA Division I programs such as the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Mississippi.

Lewis earned a Bachelor's degree from Delta State and a Master's degree from the University of North Alabama.

Before becoming the headman of the Tigers, Lewis directed the programs of Alcorn Central High School, Biggersville High School and Water Valley High School.

At Alcorn Central, Lewis led the Golden Bears to a 112-55 record, one Division 1-3A title, a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 3A championship and three Tombigbee Conference crowns during his five-year tenure.

In 1988, Lewis was named the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal co-Coach of the Year and was named Coach of the Year by the Clarion-Ledger and the Daily Corinthian.

He and his wife Shirley have two daughters, Lesley and Lana.