Longtime basketball instructor at Idaho Falls Rec Center steps down after 25 years

IDAHO FALLS – If there’s one thing Cleave Lewis doesn’t like, it’s personal recognition.

The 63-year-old Idaho Falls man has been the face behind the Idaho Falls Recreation Center’s basketball skills classes for 25 years. The city held a retirement party for him on Friday afternoon, which was his last day on the job. The city is hoping to hire someone in his place soon.

Lewis cites his age as the primary reason for his retirement.

“I’m getting old,” Lewis tells EastIdahoNews.com. “I have a couple of young grandkids I want to spend more time with. We all have to retire at some point. We can’t work forever.”

Lewis made it clear throughout our conversation that he would prefer not to be spotlighted. He prefers, instead, to focus on the kids he has worked with over the years, many of whom he has watched go on to be successful athletes, attorneys, doctors and more. That’s what brings him the most satisfaction and fulfillment.

Still, Lewis grew up playing basketball in the very building where he taught classes, and it’s bittersweet for him to be moving on.

“The first time I came in here (the Idaho Falls Rec Center) was like grade school. I’ve been part of this place ever since,” Lewis says.

In high school, he worked as a rec center aide, helping to keep scores at ball games, among other things. He was also a starting player for Skyline High School.

He went on to play basketball in college, where he played against future NBA stars like Hakeem Olajuwon and Karl Malone.

After college, he played professionally in Europe for 13 years. During that time, he played for the Worthing Bears (now the Brighton Bears) and won the playoffs three years in a row.

“Anytime you win a championship, it’s always a great accomplishment,” says Lewis. “To win three in a row is a pretty good achievement. That’s hard to beat.”

Lewis’ interest in basketball stems back to childhood when he and his family moved to Idaho Falls from Jamaica. His mom married a man who worked as a mason in the area. Soccer and cricket were popular sports in Jamaica at the time and that’s what Lewis was familiar with.

His cousins introduced him to basketball.

His first experience happened at an outdoor court near A.H. Bush Elementary School and it didn’t take long before Lewis was hooked.

“I picked up a basketball and thought this could be the sport for me,” Lewis recalls.

Lewis retired from playing professional basketball in 1997 and moved back to Idaho Falls to become a basketball instructor for the city of Idaho Falls.

Lewis says he learned to play the game by interacting with older kids. He never had a coach or a mentor in those early years to teach him the fundamentals. After a successful professional career, the idea of returning to his hometown and teaching kids how to play in the same building where he grew up playing is something that appealed to him.

Among the students he’s taught over the years is Jared Stutzman, a Bonneville High School graduate who was the Bees’ all-time leading scorer in 2014. Stutzman later played for Idaho State University.

As he thinks about the number of kids he’s been able to coach, Lewis says he’s grateful for “the opportunity to have some kind of influence in their life.”

“It’s a blessing,” Lewis says.

Though he’s glad to retire and pursue other things, he can’t help but feel that he’s letting some of the kids down. He’s glad that the Cleave Lewis basketball program will continue under a new leader.

He wishes his successor the best and expresses gratitude to all the parents who put their trust in him to be a positive role model in their child’s life.

“I hope that I’ve done that,” he says.

“Cleave has been a steady, positive presence at the Rec Center for decades,” Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Director PJ Holm says in a news release. “He’s mentored generations of local athletes, shared his love for the game, and helped shape our community through his quiet leadership and dedication. He’s respected by colleagues, parents, and players alike, and his contributions will be remembered long after his retirement. We’re incredibly grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best moving forward.”