Pat Lyons
Patrick G. Lyons was named Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreational Services at Seton Hall University on February 22, 2011.
Since his arrival, Lyons has been dedicated in his efforts to implement his vision for Seton Hall's athletics and recreation department by introducing a number of initiatives designed to enhance the college experience for Seton Hall's 14 NCAA Division I athletics programs and the student body as a whole.
In Lyons' four full years as Director of Athletics, the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund, Seton Hall's athletic fundraising vehicle, experienced the most success in its history. Pirate Blue received record contributions in consecutive years to fund critical initiatives to help ensure the Pirates will remain competitive in the BIG EAST conference and at a national level.
Strengths:
With the help of the Pride & Excellence Campaign, a fund raising initiative Lyons launched to support facility enhancements, several other projects have come to fruition. The men's basketball locker room and women's basketball coaching suite were each renovated during the 2011-12 academic year. In March 2013, Owen T. Carroll Field, home to Seton Hall's baseball and soccer programs, received a state-of-the-art LED video scoreboard. Five months later, Seton Hall opened its new training room, a cutting-edge on-site medical facility for student-athletes that features three 14-foot in-ground Hydro Worx tubs.
The Charles W. Doehler Academic Center for Excellence opened its doors in October 2013. The modernized space dedicated to academic advisement services for student-athletes doubled the size of the previous academic center.
Committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience, as well as personal and professional development, Lyons was the driving force behind the introduction of the H.A.L.L. (Helping Athletes Learn to be Leaders) Program in 2013. Built on five components (Leadership Development, Student-Athlete Welfare Enhancement, Academic and Athletic Success Initiatives, Community Enrichment, Spiritual Growth), the H.A.L.L. Program's mission is to serve as the catalyst that transforms high school graduates into student-athlete leaders, and then leaders in the professional world.
Seton Hall student-athletes have enjoyed tremendous academic success during Lyons' tenure as well. The cumulative grade point average for student-athletes is currently at an all-time high. In addition, over his three full years at The Hall 521 student-athletes have earned BIG EAST Academic All Star recognition; 159 in 2011-12 (68 percent of student-athlete population), 171 in 2012-13 (73 percent of student-athlete population) and 191 in 2013-14 (77 percent of student-athlete population).
Weaknesses:
Like it or not the face of Seton Hall's sports programs is men's basketball. And to date the coach Lyons inherited has not gotten the job done.
There's been criticism leveled for his decision to bring back Willard and that's understandable given our coach's less than stellar record.
There has also been criticism leveled for Willard getting an extension after Lyons was hired. One that still has three years to go.
Bottom Line:
I have made no secrets about my opinion of Pat Lyons. I clearly feel he has been one of the very best hires at Seton Hall since the advent of the Big East in 1979.
When Lyons was hired this is what he faced....
The school had scaled back to the NCAA minimum of 14 sports, with two of its marquee programs — men’s and women’s basketball headed for sub-.500 seasons.
Athletic fundraising ranked in the bottom third of the 16-team Big East.
Followed an AD in Joe Quinlan who was in so over his head that even his closest friends admitted he should have never been hired as an AD in a top conference.
The school had some of the worst athletic facilities in the league.
This coming year:
The key to Lyons getting the job done is two fold. Having a vision and then the finances to follow that vision.
To date he has done a great job. The only knock on him is the lack of success in our marque program, men's basketball. And yes he does deserve some blame as Willard is his coach and clearly KW has not gotten the job done. So Lyons slate is not perfect.
But as I noted many times in the past he had his hands tied by decisions made previous to his hire.
Lyons with the approval of Dr Esteban has upgraded Seton Halls athletic facilities to the point that they are a now a match against any other league member.
He has also overseen the best to date academic success by our student athletes in the history of the school.
Lyons is approachable in any venue and will speak to (and more importantly listen to) anyone who wants to share a thought. Those that complain about his email not being posted should know his direct phone number is available on the school's athletic site.
In short Lyons has been at SHU a little more than 4 years and those that complain about the job he has done, with a few calling for his dismissal are short sighted and basing their option on limited facts. As I see it they could not be more wrong.
Lyons is a treasure for SHU. As bad as Joe Quinlan was for Seton Hall Pat Lyons is his polar opposite.
Patrick G. Lyons was named Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreational Services at Seton Hall University on February 22, 2011.
Since his arrival, Lyons has been dedicated in his efforts to implement his vision for Seton Hall's athletics and recreation department by introducing a number of initiatives designed to enhance the college experience for Seton Hall's 14 NCAA Division I athletics programs and the student body as a whole.
In Lyons' four full years as Director of Athletics, the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund, Seton Hall's athletic fundraising vehicle, experienced the most success in its history. Pirate Blue received record contributions in consecutive years to fund critical initiatives to help ensure the Pirates will remain competitive in the BIG EAST conference and at a national level.
Strengths:
With the help of the Pride & Excellence Campaign, a fund raising initiative Lyons launched to support facility enhancements, several other projects have come to fruition. The men's basketball locker room and women's basketball coaching suite were each renovated during the 2011-12 academic year. In March 2013, Owen T. Carroll Field, home to Seton Hall's baseball and soccer programs, received a state-of-the-art LED video scoreboard. Five months later, Seton Hall opened its new training room, a cutting-edge on-site medical facility for student-athletes that features three 14-foot in-ground Hydro Worx tubs.
The Charles W. Doehler Academic Center for Excellence opened its doors in October 2013. The modernized space dedicated to academic advisement services for student-athletes doubled the size of the previous academic center.
Committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience, as well as personal and professional development, Lyons was the driving force behind the introduction of the H.A.L.L. (Helping Athletes Learn to be Leaders) Program in 2013. Built on five components (Leadership Development, Student-Athlete Welfare Enhancement, Academic and Athletic Success Initiatives, Community Enrichment, Spiritual Growth), the H.A.L.L. Program's mission is to serve as the catalyst that transforms high school graduates into student-athlete leaders, and then leaders in the professional world.
Seton Hall student-athletes have enjoyed tremendous academic success during Lyons' tenure as well. The cumulative grade point average for student-athletes is currently at an all-time high. In addition, over his three full years at The Hall 521 student-athletes have earned BIG EAST Academic All Star recognition; 159 in 2011-12 (68 percent of student-athlete population), 171 in 2012-13 (73 percent of student-athlete population) and 191 in 2013-14 (77 percent of student-athlete population).
Weaknesses:
Like it or not the face of Seton Hall's sports programs is men's basketball. And to date the coach Lyons inherited has not gotten the job done.
There's been criticism leveled for his decision to bring back Willard and that's understandable given our coach's less than stellar record.
There has also been criticism leveled for Willard getting an extension after Lyons was hired. One that still has three years to go.
Bottom Line:
I have made no secrets about my opinion of Pat Lyons. I clearly feel he has been one of the very best hires at Seton Hall since the advent of the Big East in 1979.
When Lyons was hired this is what he faced....
The school had scaled back to the NCAA minimum of 14 sports, with two of its marquee programs — men’s and women’s basketball headed for sub-.500 seasons.
Athletic fundraising ranked in the bottom third of the 16-team Big East.
Followed an AD in Joe Quinlan who was in so over his head that even his closest friends admitted he should have never been hired as an AD in a top conference.
The school had some of the worst athletic facilities in the league.
This coming year:
The key to Lyons getting the job done is two fold. Having a vision and then the finances to follow that vision.
To date he has done a great job. The only knock on him is the lack of success in our marque program, men's basketball. And yes he does deserve some blame as Willard is his coach and clearly KW has not gotten the job done. So Lyons slate is not perfect.
But as I noted many times in the past he had his hands tied by decisions made previous to his hire.
Lyons with the approval of Dr Esteban has upgraded Seton Halls athletic facilities to the point that they are a now a match against any other league member.
He has also overseen the best to date academic success by our student athletes in the history of the school.
Lyons is approachable in any venue and will speak to (and more importantly listen to) anyone who wants to share a thought. Those that complain about his email not being posted should know his direct phone number is available on the school's athletic site.
In short Lyons has been at SHU a little more than 4 years and those that complain about the job he has done, with a few calling for his dismissal are short sighted and basing their option on limited facts. As I see it they could not be more wrong.
Lyons is a treasure for SHU. As bad as Joe Quinlan was for Seton Hall Pat Lyons is his polar opposite.
