Benjy Lewis, the longtime architect of Ouachita Parish High School’s football resurgence, announced his departure from the sidelines just five months after guiding the Lions to a state championship, accepting a position as assistant principal at Good Hope Middle School.
A Championship Legacy
Lewis’s 23‑year coaching odyssey spanned multiple parishes, including stints at Jena, West Ouachita, Richwood and Neville before he rose to head coach at Ouachita Parish in 2023, a role he held while also serving two years as defensive coordinator.
The championship victory over Ruston marked the Lions’ first title since 1989, a triumph that highlighted Lewis’s ability to blend tradition with innovation and culminated in a perfect 18‑18 record over his three‑year tenure as head coach.
Among the standout seniors is running back Dylan Berymon, who signed with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in February, underscoring the program’s pipeline to Division I and adding a new chapter to the school’s storied legacy.
Lewis’s transition to administration reflects a broader trend of veteran coaches seeking new challenges beyond the field, and his next chapter will be watched closely by players, parents and rivals eager to see how his leadership translates to a middle‑school setting.