Split evenly between the college ranks with 11 years experience and the pro ranks with 11 years experience Lewis is widely regarded as one of the all time great defensive football coaches.

Lewis, who spent only one season with the Washington Redskins before getting a much deserved opportunity as a head coach was responsible for the Redskins defensive unit being ranked 5th best in the NFL for the 2002 season.

To better understand exactly what Lewis meant to the Redskins consider what Daily Dave aka Dave Johnson wrote in his online column for Washington's WTOP Radio: The Bengals got lucky. With the 2002 season the Redskins gave Lewis, as defensive coordinator, one more year of seasoning. He again proved he had the recipe for success when the Redskins defense finished fifth overall in the NFL. This past season the Redskins defense ended up 25th in the NFL. That's not a drop. That's a free fall.

The "again" Johnson mentions in his column is a reference to Lewis outstanding success prior to coming to Washington when he served as defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens for six seasons.

Included in the legacy Lewis left behind in Baltimore is a Super Bowl victory following the 2000 season. In the magical 2000 regular season, the Raven defense coached by Lewis has been widely considered as one of the best NFL defenses of all time. Baltimore's defense set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16 game season. The Raven's defense allowed a paltry 165 points overall, an astounding 10.3 points per game. In today's power offense game which defines the NFL that is truly a mind boggling stat.

The Lewis coached Baltimore defense also finished first in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (970 total - average of 60.6 per game), rushing average yards allowed (2.7 per rushing attempt), total takeaways (49 - 3.06 per game), fumble recoveries with (26) and most shutouts with (4). You have to go all the way back to 1976 to find a team who recorded as many or more shutouts. The legendary Pittsburg Steelers "steel curtain" had five in 1976.

The Ravens 2000 defense held opponents scoreless in 41 of 64 quarters allowing one touchdown or less in 14 of their last 18 games. Lewis' last three Baltimore defenses each ranked number two in the NFL in total yardage allowed.

Before Lewis came to the Ravens he was linebackers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers for four years. Under his tutelage some of the best linebackes in the NFL emerged, including Kevin Greene, Chad Brown, Levon Kirkland, and Greg Lloyd, Pro Bowl selections all.

Finally, and long overdue, the day many in and around football and certainly Lewis himself was waiting for arrived. He was named the Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach on January 14, 2003.

Commented The Cincinnati Enquirer: The signing of Lewis, also a former assistant head coach in the NFL and widely considered as one of the league?s top head coaching candidates, casts a new, positive light on the Bengals? prospects. The 2002 team posted the worst record (2-14) in franchise history.

?I?m glad he?s the coach of the Cincinnati Bengals; I think it?s a wonderful move,? said three-time Pro Bowl HB Corey Dillon. ?Marvin has a great track record, and I believe he has a great passion for winning.?

"I think we've turned over a new leaf for the Bengals," Mike Brown, Owner of the Cincinnati Bengals said. "We are starting fresh. He has the respect of people throughout the National Football League. He sold us, and I think he will sell the people in Cincinnati."

Said Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick: ?It was only a matter of time, this is long overdue. I've said it for the last couple of years, if some team is interested in winning, they should hire Marvin. He is going to help them win. It's going to be great competing against him in our division, but we do have some concerns, because he will take them to a higher level than they've been. I know he'll do a great job."

Billick went on to say: ?Marvin has a definitive plan. He?ll have the organization working collectively in the right direction. I see no reason, looking at the Bengals? personnel and knowing Marvin, that they won?t be a team that?s capable of making the playoffs.?

?Marvin brings some stability to the Bengals,? said Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, ?He?s been on championship teams in the NFL. He?s been around some great players. He knows how to keep perspective. When they win a couple of games in a row, that?s going to be expected around there. It?s not going to be someone running around with jubilation.?

The great, future NFL Hall of Fame Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis had this to say: ?Marvin is a close friend, and I am definitely happy for him, he deserves this reward. Coaches have come and gone in Cincinnati for years, but I really think Marvin can bring a winning attitude to the Bengals and make them into a good team. He just needs to do what he does best,and that is not to let teams score, that is what it takes to win in the NFL today. It may take a few years, but I think he will have great success there.?

Ray Lewis went on to say: ?It was a privilege to play for Marvin. I honestly believe I would not be the player I am today without him. He got the most out of me and taught me how to get the most from my teammates. The player and on-field coach that I am today, is all due to Marvin, and I thank him for that. You never know what kind of head coach someone will be until they are in that situation, but Marvin was an outstanding defensive coordinator both here and in Washington. He was basically the head coach of one of the best defenses of all time. He is a great teacher of the game, and I would bet on him succeeding in Cincinnati.?

By all accounts, friend or critic, Marvin Lewis first season as an NFL Head Coach was simply outstanding. The Bengals went 8-8 on the season, their first .500 season since 1996. To some this may not seem noteworthy, but considering Lewis inherited a team which went 2-14 in the 2002 season and had a combined 12-36 record for the past three seasons, an 8-8 record is pretty heady stuff. Worthy of additional consideration is the fact the 2003 Bengals with Lewis in charge were only two wins away from winning the AFC North division and the perspective of Lewis and the Bengals accomplishments in 2003 with essentially the same team from the 2002 season take on an additional lustre.

What truly and realistically portends well for the future of Bengal football is not the 2003 won loss record. Rather it is Lewis has changed the culture of the organization. Individual personalities and the "me first" attitude exhibited by some is no longer acceptable. Not only is poor attitude and lackluster performance not acceptable to the coaches, but perhaps more importantly it is unacceptable to the players and thats a sign of a "team" jelling, coming together, learning to win together and lose together. Credit Lewis and his staff for this transformation, credit the players, those that have, for being willing to buy into the system. Those that don't or won't will be gone. A new day has dawned in Cincinnati Bengal football, kudos Marvin Lewis, watch out NFL.

To cap off Coach Lewis' remarkable season he was one of the top five candidates for the AP 2003 Coach of the Year award. The top five candidates in this years race were a sterling field of outstanding NFL coaches including Lewis, New England's Bill Belichick, Carolina's John Fox, Dallas' Bill Parcells and Philadelphia's Andy Reid. Lewis placed 2nd behind Bill Belichick of the 2003 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. This speaks voulumes about the esteem with which Marvin Lewis is held and is quite an honor for a rookie coach.

The Cincinnati Enquirer commented: Of the 2003 season - It was an improvement of six games from what the squad Lewis inherited did last season.

Lewis himself said in his usual understated manner: "We earned 8-8, no question about it. It is disappointing, but we started to turn a corner."