Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis Named AP Coach Of The Year

Marvin Lewis gets - and clearly deserves - a lot of credit for guiding the Bengals to an AFC North championship in a season in which the franchise was struck twice by tragedy. Cincy Jungle points out that the chief reason Lewis deserves his AP Coach of the Year Award is his recognition of what needed to change, and his execution in making it happen.

Having already experienced a rebuilding season, Lewis knew what needed to be done. He forced the offense to change their philosophy to a run-first offense. And after signing several veteran free agents and drafting a class of players that has to be one of his best, the Bengals swept the AFC North, won the division and made the playoffs.Credit is also given to Bengals owner Mike Brown, who decided to keep Lewis on board despite three straight seasons in which Lewis’ teams won fewer games than the prior year. (Cincinnati won 11 games in 2005, 8 in 2006, 7 in 2007 and 4 in 2008.) That decision paid off, as the Bengals improved by six in the win column en route to a surprising playoff berth.

Lewis reacted to the news on the Bengals officiate site:

Following a four win 2008 season, Lewis led the Bengals to 10 wins and an AFC North division title.