Topic: Lew Perkins

Lew Perkins (born March 24, 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts) is the Director of Athletics at the University of Kansas. Perkins joined KU in June 2003, taking over for Al Bohl. Perkins previously held similar positions with the University of Connecticut, University of Maryland, College Park, Wichita State University and University of South Carolina Aiken where he gained a reputation for successfully cleaning up schools suffering under NCAA violations. Under Perkins direction, the athletics program at KU has had several successful seasons, including winning the 2008 Orange Bowl in football and the 2008 Men's Basketball Championship.

Perkins is a native of Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he was inducted into the High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Following high school, Perkins played basketball at the University of Iowa from 1965–67, where he was coached by former KU great Ralph Miller, a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame. He also received an undergraduate degree in education from the institution.At Iowa Lew pledged and activated the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.

Perkins served as Athletics Director at USC Aiken from 1969–80, overseeing the athletics department during the university's transition from a junior college to four year institution. He also served as the head basketball coach from 1969–79. In 1975 he received a Master's degree in education from the University of South Carolina. In 2005, Perkins was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Education by USC-Aiken.