College Football World Baffled by Sean Lewis’s Reported Demotion at Colorado

The ex-Kent State head coach is highly regarded throughout the game.

From 2018-22, Colorado assistant Sean Lewis oversaw one of college football's most creative offenses at Kent State. The cash-strapped Golden Flashes didn’t win all that much—Lewis left with a career record of 24–31—but he was esteemed enough to be regarded as a winning hire for Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders.

Now, Sanders has reportedly demoted Lewis from his offensive coordinator role, intending to replace him with former Browns and Giants coach Pat Shurmur.

With Colorado's offense largely having been a point of strength this year—the Buffaloes are averaging 32.1 points per game—the move confused many fans and observers.

Many instantly brought up Lewis as a name for potential offseason coaching vacancies.

Colorado OC Sean Lewis is gonna be one of the hottest names on the coaching carousel in a few weeks.

— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) November 3, 2023

Several writers pointed to Lewis as Sanders’s best hire and wondered whether Colorado’s coach had overreacted...

Hiring Sean Lewis was the thing that Deion Sanders did that made me look up and say, "OK, this really could work."

This is bizarre.

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 3, 2023

...and what programs could most use Lewis's services.

All I want in this world is Kirk Ferentz to hire Sean Lewis.

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 3, 2023

The world of college football coaches seemed universally skeptical of Sanders's plan.

I’ve never had my DMs/texts blow up like just now from other coaches. Universal agreement 😂

— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) November 3, 2023

Meanwhile, some underlined the fact that Lewis walked away from a head coaching job at Kent State to take a job with the Buffaloes.

This is wild as hell. Sean Lewis is a really creative offensive mind who left a HC position for this. I'd be 38 hot. https://t.co/s9FNyqIxNu

— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) November 3, 2023

Sean Lewis gave up a head coaching job for this. https://t.co/3gf4TbyUdJ

— scottwildcat (@scottwildcat) November 3, 2023

Others pointed to Shurmur's futility in the NFL as yet another reason to question Lewis's demotion.

as a lifelong colorado fan, sean lewis is definitely the problem and should be fired to make room for incredibly successful NFL coach pat shurmur https://t.co/8EL8NP3NWu

— david potts (@dpottzzz) November 3, 2023

I wouldn’t hire Pat Shurmur to cut my grass let alone run my offense over Sean Lewis https://t.co/mYdIji8nXa

— DeAN Wade (@ClevelandCat) November 3, 2023

Colorado will unveil its new-look offense on Saturday night at home against No. 16 Oregon State.