TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head coach Rashinda Reed rounded out her assistant coaching staff with the hiring of Ray Lewis, who arrives in Tuscaloosa following three seasons as Director of Volleyball for Merrimack College’s men’s volleyball team.

“From the first conversation with Coach Reed, it was clear that Alabama is a special place,” Lewis said. “I am incredibly grateful to the coaching staff and administration for the opportunity to join this prestigious program as an assistant coach. Alabama is the standard in athletics and I look forward to contributing to the success of our student-athletes both on and off the court.”

Lewis was charged with leading a brand new men’s volleyball program at Merrimack College starting in the spring of 2023. The Warriors had their most successful season yet this past spring, going 16-6 and ending the year on a six-match win streak. Prior to Merrimack, Lewis led both the men’s and women’s volleyball squads at Central State University, guiding the men to regular season and tournament titles in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being named the 2021 SIAC Coach of the Year for the women’s team.

For three seasons, Lewis was head coach of Benedictine University, going 62-20 (.756) including a 2019 NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship title, which earned him NAIA Coach of the Year honors that season. In his three seasons in Mesa, Arizona, his teams boasted six NAIA All-Americans, two Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, two GSAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades, two GSAC Setter of the Year selections, a GSAC Newcomer of the Year and six All-Conference winners.

Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Lewis was a head coach at Legacy High School in Las Vegas, leading the program to back-to-back state titles in 2014-15. He also served as the club director for Vegas Xtreme volleyball club from 2011-15. He played collegiate volleyball at Lakeland College and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Benedictine University of Mesa.