After a career as a standout student-athlete and dedicated administrator, Patrick Lyons enters his seventh year as Athletics Director. During his tenure, he has established the Iona College athletics department as one of the top programs in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference while continuing the drive to establish one of the most respected programs in the nation and achieve a 100% graduation rate among Iona’s student-athletes.
Lyons’ student-athlete centered vision has been incorporated into several initiatives since he has assumed the role as Athletics Director. Working closely with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Lyons has emphasized a community service element for all of Iona’s 400+ student-athletes and 21 Division I athletic programs. Lyons has also shown a deep commitment to student-athlete development and academic standards through additional support services and facilities in both the compliance and academic services offices.
"We, as coaches and administrators, must take hold of the many opportunities we have and strive to be the most respected athletic department in the nation." said Lyons. "As a department, we will continue to help our student-athletes reach their full potential, while also being a source of pride for the Iona College community. We will strive to have each student-athlete graduate and through administrative and coaching leadership, our goal for each of our teams is to compete for conference and - in some cases - national championships."
The seventh Athletic Director in Iona College history, Lyons serves as the chief administrator for the Athletic Department and its 21 NCAA Division I athletic programs. Now in his 13th year of service, the 1996 Iona graduate has worn virtually every hat within the athletics department since he stepped foot on campus as a freshman in the fall of 1992. It is with a first-hand understanding of the integral roles that student-athletes, coaches, and administrators play that Lyons brings to the AD’s office. At the time of his appointment in the summer of 2004, Lyons became the youngest Division I Athletic Director in the country.
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In his six years, the athletic department has seen unprecedented growth under Lyons’ watch and has been a record experience for Iona both on and off the field. The men’s cross country team continued its storied success earning a second straight national runner up finish at the NCAA Championship in November 2008, the highest finishes of any athletic program in Iona history. The results followed up a third place finish at the national championship in 2006, and a fourth place finish in 2005. The program has earned six Northeast Regional titles and eight Top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championship in the last eight years. Iona is one of two schools in NCAA Division I to hold that standing at nationals.
The women’s cross country team has been steadily catching up to its counterpart, earning a fifth-straight MAAC Championship this past season. In 2006, the team earned its first ever bid into the NCAA Championship by virtue of a runner-up finish at Regionals. The squad earned a 19th place finish at the final event of the season.
Iona's women’s basketball program has vaulted to one of the top teams in the conference with its best five-year stretch in school history. A MAAC semifinal round appearance in 2006 was followed up by two straight MAAC Championship games and back-to-back Women's National Invitational Second Round appearances in 2007 and 2008 and a third appearance in the WNIT in 2010. The WNIT efforts marked the first-ever post season appearances for the program. The Gaels are one of two teams in the MAAC to reach the semifinal round in each of the last five seasons.
The men’s basketball team started the 2005-06 campaign 7-0 and finished by winning a conference record seventh MAAC Championship. The 2009-10 campaign featured a 21-10 season with the Maroon & Gold holding the highest win total of the 14 NCAA Division I programs within 30 miles of the center of New York metropolitan area college basketball, Madison Square Garden. Heading into the current 2010-11 season, the program features talented mix of veterans and new comers led by first-year head coach Tim Cluess.
The Gaels' softball program earned its first ever bid to the NCAA Championship after winning the 2010 MAAC Championship over Canisius in May. Iona faced the University of Texas and East Carolina University in the NCAA Regional round in Austin, TX.
The women's lacrosse team - playing its seventh season in existence this upcoming spring - earned its first ever MAAC Championship berth in 2008. After earning a program record eight wins in '07, the Gaels won three MAAC Lacrosse League contests to earn the No. 4 seed in the conference playoffs. Iona will host the event for the fifth time in the last six seasons at Mazzella Field in 2010.
The women's water polo program was the MAAC's regular season champion in 2009 with an 8-2 record in conference play. In 2010, Iona advanced to its third straight MAAC title game.
Iona’s men’s soccer team earned the 2009 MAAC Regular Season Championship, finishing with its best record in history at 14-2-3 overall. The program reached the MAAC Championship final in 2010.
The volleyball team has been one of two programs in the conference to reach the MAAC Championship in eight of the last nine seasons. The squad earned a No. 2 seed in 2010 with a 12-6 conference record.
FACILITY UPGRADES AND FUNDRAISING
Where Lyons has truly made his mark on the department has been in the fundraising and improvements of athletic facilities. The Iona Gaels Capital Improvements Fund was created by Lyons as the first capital fundraising effort in the department’s history.
The most dramatic and impressive changes have been the grand opening of both the Hynes Athletics Center and the Judge Student-Athlete Academic Center in January 2006. The new Hynes building houses a recreation center that serves the entire Iona community. The Hynes Center contains a multi-purpose gymnasium, cardio and weight rooms, core and aerobic studios as well as an office area for a majority of the school’s Division I athletics programs. Located in Hynes East, the Academic Center provides student-athletes with vital resources and necessary tools to assist in achieving academic success and reaching their full potential in the classroom. Overseen by Lyons, both projects have completed a successful capital campaign and finished on time and within budget.
In the spring of 2008, Iona celebrated the opening of the Rice Oval softball field. The under-used space on the Northeast corner of the New Rochelle campus is now the home for the Gaels' Division I softball program. The multi-purpose turf facility will also serve Iona’s intramural programs beginning this fall.
In addition to the Academic Center, the Hynes Center East as a whole has benefited from Lyons' vision. Office suites have been created for the men’s and women’s basketball programs. The varsity weight-room for Iona’s 400+ student-athletes has been expanded and updated with the latest equipment. The lobby received a facelift with the installation of a new carpet and branding that honors the school’s 21 athletics programs. The court in the Hynes Athletics Center was also resurfaced to further exhibit Iona’s athletic brand.
In the summer of 2008, the Capital Improvements Fund worked to finance an upgrade and redesign of the Sports Medicine Facility in Hynes East. The new layout provides the training staff with private offices, a hydrotherapy room and up-to-date equipment to maintain the health of the department’s athletes.
More dramatic facility upgrades occurred in the summer of 2009 as the locker rooms in Hynes East. the Judge Academic Center and Mazzella Field each received a facelift. Both the men's and women's locker rooms in Hynes East were reconfigured to house separate rooms for all of Iona's varsity programs. The room served in its former configuration for more than 20 years. Each program now has its own team room available year round.
The Judge Student-Athlete Academic Center was expanded and allowed additional space for student-athletes to use for studying and completing course work. A varsity film room was also installed on the second floor. The room contains the latest video and computing technology and features theatre seating where coaches and athletes can review game film and help prepare for upcoming opponents.
Mazzella Field was stripped of its AstroPlay surface and the latest version of FieldTurf was installed with lines sewn in to accommodate the men's and women's soccer and women's lacrosse programs. The last resurfacing of the field took place in the summer of 1999 when it was converted from AstroTurf to become one of the first AstroPlay facilities in the Northeast. In addition to the playing surface, a new scoreboard was installed to replace the nearly 20-year old board that previously donned Mazzella Field. The scoreboard has the capability of displaying sport specific statistics for soccer and lacrosse and will also be compatible with ICGaels.com's internet video streams.
During the Summer of 2010, the Hynes Center basketball / volleyball arena floor was completed renovated. A new maple floor now covers all three courts for the first time in the building's history. The renovation serves to help all of Iona's athletics programs in either practice or game competition. The newly designed and renovated arena floor also serves as the game surface for volleyball and men's & women's Basketball contests at the Hynes Center.
HISTORY AT IONA
Before elevating to his current role, Lyons was the Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. In that role, he was responsible for all revenue generation by the athletics department with primary oversight of the department’s fundraising arm - The Goal Club. This included but not limited to, all fundraising activities and marketing for the department including the annual golf tournament, sponsorships, and the annual fund.
In his two years in that position, the Goal Club not only set new fundraising records each year but also increased membership. Lyons also oversaw the department’s marketing, licensing and merchandising efforts, including the re-branding and overhaul of the athletic department logo and word marks.
Prior to that role, Lyons served as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance. He oversaw all NCAA, MAAC, and institutional policies and regulations, as well as team scheduling, student-athlete financial aid, the student-athlete advisory committee, and payroll for all staff as well as student-workers. Lyons also coordinated the NCAA certification process, from the self study to on-campus visits.
As a coach, Lyons led the golf team to its most successful four-year span. At the helm of the Gaels from 1998-2002, he directed the squad to three MAAC Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Golf Championship in each of his three full seasons. The team also won eight tournaments while maintaining one of the highest GPA’s for any male team at Iona. Lyons also served as assistant hockey coach from 1997-2000. As the top assistant, Lyons expanding Iona’s recruiting base and helped guide the Maroon & Gold to the 1999 MAAC Hockey League Championship game.
From 1997-99, Lyons served as a graduate assistant, working closely with former Athletics Director and Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Rich Petriccione.
A native of Providence, RI, Lyons was a two-sport standout in hockey and golf. One of the most prolific scorers in school history, Lyons tallied 80 goals and 90 assists during his 86-game career and led all of NCAA Division I hockey in goals per game during the 1995-96 season, scoring 28 goals in 25 games. He captained the golf team during his junior and senior seasons and in 1996, received the Joseph O’Connell award, given annually to Iona’s most outstanding student-athlete. In 1999, Lyons earned his master’s degree in teaching from Iona and earned an MBA from the Hagan School of Business in 2004. Lyons has also served as an adjunct professor in both the Biology department at Iona and the Sports Business Management program at Manhattanville College.
Lyons currently serves on several committees at the national and conference level. He is a member of the NCAA Division I Championships and Sports Management Cabinet where he serves as a liaison to the men’s and women’s ice hockey committees. Lyons serves as the Chairman of MAAC Cross Country Committee and previously as chairman of the MAAC Committee on Athletics Administration. In addition, he serves on the MAAC Committees for Marketing, Strategic Planning and Gender Equity. In the past, Lyons held seats on the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet, the Division I FCS Subdivision Executive Committee, NCAA Division I Water Polo Committee, the MAAC Football Committee and NCAA Division I Football Regional Advisory Committee.
Lyons is married to the former Rachel Cintolo, a pediatric nurse practitioner and clinical faculty at Columbia University. The two were married on Sept. 4, 2004 and reside in New Rochelle.
