LaTroy Lewis is in his first season as the defensive line coach at the University of Toledo.
“I’m really excited about LaTroy and his family joining our team here at Toledo,” said Head Coach Jason Candle. “He’s a great young coach with a ton of potential and a really bright future in this profession. He’s picked up some valuable experience along the way in his stops as a player and a coach. I’m really looking forward to the value he will add to our team.”
“Fired up barely describes my family’s excitement to join Rocket Nation,” said Lewis. “The culture that Coach Candle continues to build here is palpable and second to none. I am excited to help mentor, culture, cultivate, and coach these young men to excellence both on and off the field.”
Lewis, a native of Akron, Ohio, began his coaching career in 2020 as a graduate assistant at the University in 2020, where he worked primarily with outside linebackers. From there he moved on to South Alabama as a defensive graduate assistant where he worked with primarily special teams and nickelbacks. He spent one season at Wake Forest as a special teams assistant before moving to the University of Michigan, where he served as a graduate assistant working with the linebackers before working as an assistant defensive line coach. At Michigan, Lewis was part of teams that won two Big Ten Championships and appeared twice in the College Football Playoffs, winning the title in 2023.
Prior to his coaching career, Lewis played defensive line at the University of Tennessee. At Tennessee, Lewis played in and won three consecutive bowl games. He had his best season as a senior in 2016, garnering career highs in tackles (36), tackles for loss (4.0) and sacks (2.5).
After his career at Tennessee, Lewis spent three seasons in the NFL with Oakland, Houston and Tennessee. He finished his professional playing career for the undefeated Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2020.
Lewis graduated from University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2017.
LaTroy Lewis' Coaching Experience
2025: Toledo – Defensive Line
2023: Michigan – Assistant Defensive Line Coach
2022-23: Michigan – Linebackers Graduate Assistant
2021: Wake Forest – Special Teams Assistant
2021: South Alabama – Graduate Assistant
2020-21: Akron – Graduate Assistant
