Dewey Lusk will begin his fith season as the head coach of the UVa-Wise football program in 2015, following a 2-9 campaign in 2014. Both wins came against Mountain East Conference opponents, with wins over West Virginia State and Fairmont State to end the season.
Three years ago, the Cavaliers 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.
Four 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.
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 College 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, North Carolina and they have two adult children, Gil and Landi.
