By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Marvin Lewis will be named one of the most influential minorities in sports in an upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated.

The Bengals coach has engineered a transformation of the previously moribund franchise. The Bengals finished 8-8 in Lewis' rookie season as an NFL head coach in 2003, just the club's second non-losing season in the past 13 years.

Lewis' hand is virtually all over the organization, and he has become its primary voice and face.

Under Lewis, the Bengals sold out five games - the most in their four seasons in Paul Brown Stadium - and their most since selling out all eight home games in 1992 in Riverfront Stadium.

The Bengals also set a single-season home attendance record of 479,488 in 2003.

Lewis has made Cincinnati a more desirable destination for free agent players. And In 2004, the Bengals will have their first home Monday night game since 1989.

"Surprise," Lewis said Thursday when asked about the Sports Illustrated designation.

When asked what it means to him, Lewis said: "I'm hopeful the people (minority coaches) who persevered previous to me take some thanks. I'm thankful to them for all the steps they had to climb. Without them, I wouldn't be here."

On Jan. 14, Lewis became the eighth African-American in league history to be named an NFL head coach.

The Bengals stayed in the playoff hunt until losing on the season's last day in 2003, and Lewis finished second in balloting to New England's Bill Belichick for NFL coach of the year.

IN THE HOUSE: Former Steelers linebacker Jason Gildon attended the on-field coaching session Thursday and wore a Bengals baseball cap and T-shirt.

He sat in the locker room and chatted with quarterback Jon Kitna and tight end Jonathan Hayes, a former Steelers teammate of Gildon's.

Lewis was Gildon's linebackers coach in 1994 and '95 with the Steelers.

Lewis declined comment on Gildon, and team policy prevented Gildon from answering questions.

TIP THE SCALES: Players received sealed letters this week that contained their mandatory reporting weights for training camp, which begins July 30 at Georgetown (Ky.) College.

THAT'S IT: The Bengals will hold their 14th and final on-field coaching session today at Paul Brown Stadium. Some veterans have been excused.

The team will complete its 14-week offseason strength and conditioning program next week.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Bengals linebackers coach Ricky Hunley will attend the second NFL-Stanford Program for Managers from Sunday to June 26, along with one executive from each NFL club.

Hunley will attend classes at the Stanford Graduate School of Business on topics related to NFL management.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com