With the start of practice for the 2010-11 men's basketball season just around the corner Eastern Illinois assistant coach Michael Lewis has been rated as one of the top five assistant coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference. The ratings were conducted by Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com as the national basketball writer looks at assistant coaches in each conference.

Joining Lewis on the list are Tennessee Tech assistant coach Steve Payne, Murray State assistants Steve Prohm and Isaac Chew and Austin Peay assistant Bret Campbell. Campbell was the head coach at UT Martin two seasons ago leading the program to the regular-season OVC championship.

Lewis enters his sixth season as a member of head coach Mike Miller's staff at Eastern Illinois. He has been instrumental in recruiting several of EIU's top players including current guard Tyler Laser and forward James Hollowell.

Lewis played at Indiana University for coach Bob Knight ending his Hoosier career as the school's career leader in assists. He also has previous coaching stops at Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin.