Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
"These guys now have the opportunity, along with us, to write our own story” - Q&A with Secondary Coach Bryce Lewis
1/25/2024 5:00:00 PM | Football
The long-time Derek Mason student gets his first chance as a position coach at MTSU
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Bryce Lewis doesn't take long to recall back to when he first met Derek Mason, the man that would become his head coach as a football player, and eventually his boss, now for the fourth time, as he starts his first position coach job in college football as Mason's first secondary coach at Middle Tennessee.
The relationship started back in 2012, when Mason was still the defensive coordinator at Stanford and Lewis was a cornerback at Parkview High School in Gwinnett County, Ga. When Mason was hired at Vanderbilt ahead of the 2014 season, Lewis committed to Mason and the Commodores. In the years since, Lewis has gone from starting cornerback, to graduate assistant, to quality control coach, to defensive analyst, following Mason from Vanderbilt to Auburn to Oklahoma State.
"I've grown up under him," Lewis said. "Anything I tell you or anything I preach to the guys, anything on our culture, there is no confusion because it's coming straight from Coach Mason."
Someone that has long been in Mason's circle of trust, Lewis' excitement over the opportunity to run his own position room is palpable when you talk to him. It's that level of high energy that drove him forward as a player, Lewis said, and it's something he expects from his players, as well as himself, as players return to campus for the spring semester.
To learn more about Lewis' journey back to the mid-state, GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton sat down with Lewis earlier this month to discuss his connection with Mason, what he's learned "off-the-field" over the past several years to prepare him for his new role and what he hopes people will remember about the Blue Raider defensive backs as long as he's their coach.
The conversation has been edited and condensed for space and clarity.
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Coach Mason talks about the "circle of trust" he forms with his coaches and players. You're obviously someone that has been in that circle for a long time, between playing for Mason and coaching under him as an analyst. What does being a part of the "circle of trust" mean to you now that you have a chance to build on that at Middle Tennessee?
For me, it's all about understanding his standard. That's been a huge plus. I've grown up under him. Anything I tell you or anything I preach to the guys, anything on our culture, there is no confusion because it's coming straight from Coach Mason. I've been with him, if you count recruiting, he was at Stanford, offered me in 2012. We've been in some kind of communication since 2012. He's basically the godfather to my children.
Being around here is a lot deeper than just an opportunity to coach. It's family, which means my standard is automatically higher, because I don't ever want to let him down. I definitely see an extreme level of importance and urgency to make sure everything is right.
Even with that background, getting your first position coaching job is a huge milestone in any coach's career. What does it mean to get that opportunity here at MTSU?
It's a blessing. I talked to (Mason) for years about the opportunity and it's always been, 'Whatever role you're in, act as if you're the head coach of that opportunity.' So when the responsibility does come, it's nothing new and you proceed with the same routines. I tell our guys and he always tells our coaches, 'Chase the responsibility.' So, that's all I've been doing.
It's a plus to be in Murfreesboro. I started my family in Nashville. I played college ball there, so it's not too far. That's just icing on the cake.
What have you learned at Vanderbilt, at Auburn, at Oklahoma State the past couple of years as an analyst that you'll be taking into the secondary room?
Being in that off the field role allows you to learn. Honestly, I've learned probably more what I wouldn't do, just learn from others' mistakes. But also taking some things from people like (Oklahoma State Defensive Passing Game Coordinator) Tim Duffie, how he runs his room, the emphasis on relationships. Obviously, being with Mason, being intentional, being concise with your teaching process.
Every spot that I've been, it's been nice to have that different perspective. Whether it was recruiting, meeting room, operations, getting a chance to do that and being able to take what I did like and then apply it in my own way to my own room.
Since you brought it up, what are some of the "don'ts" you've learned that you want to avoid?
Don't meander. This business is a results business. You've got to be able to articulate what you want to do and how you want to do it without mixing words or wasting time. That was one thing, how can I be as concise as possible, as clear as possible, in my communication? Player-to-player, coach-to-player, coach-to-coach.
And just how you treat people. My room philosophy is always person first, player second. You are taking over someone's child. I have my own children. I would feel some type of way if it got back to me the way that I've heard some people speak to kids about playing time, about off-the-field deals, about their own family. I want to make sure I handle people's children with care and give them a better product back than what they brought to us.
You mentioned your mid-state ties from your time at Vanderbilt. What excites you about getting to rekindle those connections now that you work in the mid-state?
I think the biggest thing is you've got to win home. I understood the importance of winning home when I was at Vandy. We came and got the majority of our home state guys from the Middle Tennessee area. Just being able to be back and, like you said, rekindle and reconnect. I know there's always talent here. And there's something to developing talent at home. If you win the state, you've got a pretty good shot at winning during the season.
The community deserves it. Why go shopping at other grocery stores when you've got everything you need here?
What do you hope a Bryce Lewis coached defensive back group is known for on the field?
I want everybody to know when they leave (Murfreesboro), that you're in a dog fight. Physicality is must. Competitiveness, intensity and juice. I coach at an extremely high level; ball has always been my favorite thing to do. So, when I'm out there, I'm having a ball. I don't want it to feel like work. We're going to grind, we're going to work. But I want y'all to have fun, it should be a party. Party at the ball, any time we could celebrate each other, we're celebrating.
The energy needs to be an all-time high. That's where the rooms separate themselves. Because this game is hard. The work outs are hard, the meetings are hard. There needs to be some kind of get-back. I think that happens on the field and within the camaraderie and community we build in the room.
Knowing you've not had the chance to get on the field quite yet, what excites you about this group in the defensive back room that's already here and that you have coming in?
The one thing is it's a clean slate. These guys now have the opportunity, along with us, to write our own story. I don't know you, and that could be a good or a bad thing. I'm coming in with no preconceived notions. For the guys that were here, I think it gives them new life and we've talked about that clean slate. You have all my trust until you lose it.
And then for the guys that I've brought in, some, like Brendon Harris, who played for me six years ago, that's my senior citizen. Some of the transfers, the young guys that we signed, we're bringing in some good length, athletic ability, sure tacklers, I'm really excited to see what it all turns into. I can't wait to get to spring and really see what we've got.
The relationship started back in 2012, when Mason was still the defensive coordinator at Stanford and Lewis was a cornerback at Parkview High School in Gwinnett County, Ga. When Mason was hired at Vanderbilt ahead of the 2014 season, Lewis committed to Mason and the Commodores. In the years since, Lewis has gone from starting cornerback, to graduate assistant, to quality control coach, to defensive analyst, following Mason from Vanderbilt to Auburn to Oklahoma State.
"I've grown up under him," Lewis said. "Anything I tell you or anything I preach to the guys, anything on our culture, there is no confusion because it's coming straight from Coach Mason."
Someone that has long been in Mason's circle of trust, Lewis' excitement over the opportunity to run his own position room is palpable when you talk to him. It's that level of high energy that drove him forward as a player, Lewis said, and it's something he expects from his players, as well as himself, as players return to campus for the spring semester.
To learn more about Lewis' journey back to the mid-state, GoBlueRaiders.com Staff Writer Sam Doughton sat down with Lewis earlier this month to discuss his connection with Mason, what he's learned "off-the-field" over the past several years to prepare him for his new role and what he hopes people will remember about the Blue Raider defensive backs as long as he's their coach.
The conversation has been edited and condensed for space and clarity.
---
Coach Mason talks about the "circle of trust" he forms with his coaches and players. You're obviously someone that has been in that circle for a long time, between playing for Mason and coaching under him as an analyst. What does being a part of the "circle of trust" mean to you now that you have a chance to build on that at Middle Tennessee?
For me, it's all about understanding his standard. That's been a huge plus. I've grown up under him. Anything I tell you or anything I preach to the guys, anything on our culture, there is no confusion because it's coming straight from Coach Mason. I've been with him, if you count recruiting, he was at Stanford, offered me in 2012. We've been in some kind of communication since 2012. He's basically the godfather to my children.
Being around here is a lot deeper than just an opportunity to coach. It's family, which means my standard is automatically higher, because I don't ever want to let him down. I definitely see an extreme level of importance and urgency to make sure everything is right.
Even with that background, getting your first position coaching job is a huge milestone in any coach's career. What does it mean to get that opportunity here at MTSU?
It's a blessing. I talked to (Mason) for years about the opportunity and it's always been, 'Whatever role you're in, act as if you're the head coach of that opportunity.' So when the responsibility does come, it's nothing new and you proceed with the same routines. I tell our guys and he always tells our coaches, 'Chase the responsibility.' So, that's all I've been doing.
It's a plus to be in Murfreesboro. I started my family in Nashville. I played college ball there, so it's not too far. That's just icing on the cake.
What have you learned at Vanderbilt, at Auburn, at Oklahoma State the past couple of years as an analyst that you'll be taking into the secondary room?
Being in that off the field role allows you to learn. Honestly, I've learned probably more what I wouldn't do, just learn from others' mistakes. But also taking some things from people like (Oklahoma State Defensive Passing Game Coordinator) Tim Duffie, how he runs his room, the emphasis on relationships. Obviously, being with Mason, being intentional, being concise with your teaching process.
Every spot that I've been, it's been nice to have that different perspective. Whether it was recruiting, meeting room, operations, getting a chance to do that and being able to take what I did like and then apply it in my own way to my own room.
Since you brought it up, what are some of the "don'ts" you've learned that you want to avoid?
Don't meander. This business is a results business. You've got to be able to articulate what you want to do and how you want to do it without mixing words or wasting time. That was one thing, how can I be as concise as possible, as clear as possible, in my communication? Player-to-player, coach-to-player, coach-to-coach.
And just how you treat people. My room philosophy is always person first, player second. You are taking over someone's child. I have my own children. I would feel some type of way if it got back to me the way that I've heard some people speak to kids about playing time, about off-the-field deals, about their own family. I want to make sure I handle people's children with care and give them a better product back than what they brought to us.
You mentioned your mid-state ties from your time at Vanderbilt. What excites you about getting to rekindle those connections now that you work in the mid-state?
I think the biggest thing is you've got to win home. I understood the importance of winning home when I was at Vandy. We came and got the majority of our home state guys from the Middle Tennessee area. Just being able to be back and, like you said, rekindle and reconnect. I know there's always talent here. And there's something to developing talent at home. If you win the state, you've got a pretty good shot at winning during the season.
The community deserves it. Why go shopping at other grocery stores when you've got everything you need here?
What do you hope a Bryce Lewis coached defensive back group is known for on the field?
I want everybody to know when they leave (Murfreesboro), that you're in a dog fight. Physicality is must. Competitiveness, intensity and juice. I coach at an extremely high level; ball has always been my favorite thing to do. So, when I'm out there, I'm having a ball. I don't want it to feel like work. We're going to grind, we're going to work. But I want y'all to have fun, it should be a party. Party at the ball, any time we could celebrate each other, we're celebrating.
The energy needs to be an all-time high. That's where the rooms separate themselves. Because this game is hard. The work outs are hard, the meetings are hard. There needs to be some kind of get-back. I think that happens on the field and within the camaraderie and community we build in the room.
Knowing you've not had the chance to get on the field quite yet, what excites you about this group in the defensive back room that's already here and that you have coming in?
The one thing is it's a clean slate. These guys now have the opportunity, along with us, to write our own story. I don't know you, and that could be a good or a bad thing. I'm coming in with no preconceived notions. For the guys that were here, I think it gives them new life and we've talked about that clean slate. You have all my trust until you lose it.
And then for the guys that I've brought in, some, like Brendon Harris, who played for me six years ago, that's my senior citizen. Some of the transfers, the young guys that we signed, we're bringing in some good length, athletic ability, sure tacklers, I'm really excited to see what it all turns into. I can't wait to get to spring and really see what we've got.
Players Mentioned
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