Dewey Lusk will begin his third season as the head coach of the UVa-Wise football program in 2013 following a 3-8 campaign in 2012. Last year, the Cavalier shocked eventual playoff participant and nationally ranked Bethel 24-21 in the season opener. The team also claimed victories over Bluefield College and Union College in the school's final season in the Mid-South Conference.
Two seasons ago, Lusk spent his first season as a head coach after working as an assistant for 26 seasons. The long awaited first game for Lusk was a thriller as the Cavaliers opened the season with a 37-29 home victory over nationally ranked Webber International. Two weeks later, Lusk and his Cavs squared off with local rival Emory & Henry for what many labeled as the final meeting of the two schools. The Emory & Henry alumnus and former assistant will go down as the head coach of one of the more memorable games in UVa-Wise history as the Cavs scored on a lateral punt return on the game's final play to upend the Wasps 33-30. Overall, Lusk's crew would go 5-6 in 2011, a two win improvement over the 2010 Cavs.
In his tenure, Lusk has been known as an offensive mastermind. During his stint as the offensive coordinator, Lusk helped UVa-Wise become one of the most vaunted offensive juggernauts in NAIA football. In 2008, the Cavalier offense finished fourth in the NAIA in scoring offense (41.4 ppg) while finishing second in the nation in pass efficiency (174.9) and total offense (477.5 yds./gm). The Cavs led the Mid-South East in scoring offense, pass efficiency and total offense that season as well. Quarterback Randy Hippeard highlighted the 2008 offensive attack by becoming the first UVa-Wise quarterback to lead the nation in total offense (339.9 yds/gm) and passing yards (330.6 yds/gm)
In 2009, UVa-Wise once again had an outstanding offense and the individual honors continued to roll in. Wide receiver Jason Lovett was named NAIA All-American, while quarterback Brad Robbins, wide receiver Matt Barbour, and lineman Brian Pisani were named Mid-South East All-Conference. As a unit, the Cavaliers found the turf of Carl Smith Stadium to be friendly; the offense produced nearly 30 points per game at home.
In his final season as an assistant, the Cavaliers began implementing a new offensive philosophy of balance on the offensive side of the ball. UVa-Wise rushed for almost 1,800 yards that season, their highest single season total since 2007. While the passing totals dropped to an average of 163 yards per game, the rushing total increased to 163 yards per game, the highest total since the Cavs claimed the 2007 Mid-South East title.
The former offensive coordinator came to UVa-Wise after serving 14 years as an assistant coach to the now retired Emory & Henry College head coach Lou Wacker. While at Emory & Henry, Lusk served as the football team's offensive coordinator in addition to the school's head baseball coach. On the diamond, Lusk led the Wasps to more victories than any other coach in Emory & Henry history.
Lusk earned his bachelor's degree from Emory & Henry and master's degree from Gardner-Webb University, where he also served as an assistant coach. The Christiansburg High School product graduated in 1981.
Coach Lusk is married to Mily Dover of Shelby, NC and they have two children, Gil and Landi.
