ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DR. DON LYLE
Dr. Don Lyle
is in his seventh full year as Grove City College's Chairman of the
Department of Physical Education and Athletic Director. He became
department chairman in 1996 and added the role of athletic director in
March 2003.
In his position, Lyle oversees the College's 19-sport intercollegiate athletic program as well as the College's intricate Fitness and Wellness program.
He also oversees the facilities within the Physical Learning Center, including the Grove City College Arena, the Grove City College Pool and the College's two Fitness Rooms.
Lyle has been instrumental in the development and growth of the College's Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the implementation of the Athletic Heritage Award.
Grove City's athletic facilities have also received significant upgrades during Lyle's tenure as Robert E. Thorn Field, the Grove City College Arena, and the College's baseball, soccer and softball facilities have all undergone major renovations.
In January 2006, Lyle retired as head men's soccer coach at Grove City after 34 seasons. In his career at Grove City, the Wolverines accumulated 277 wins, six postseason berths, two Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles and nine PAC runner-up finishes.
He coached 16 players who earned Regional All-America distinction from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. In 1986, Bill Juergens earned NSCAA All-America honors. His teams also excelled in the classroom, boasting the highest number of PAC Academic Honor Roll placements among the league’s men’s soccer teams in each of his final 11 seasons as head coach.
Grove City advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in both 1976 and 1980 while the 1995 and 2001 teams each participated in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Championship Tournament. The 1976 team advanced to the national quarterfinals, matching the furthest advancement in any national tournament by any Grove City team.
The 1996 squad captured the program’s first PAC title and advanced to win the ECAC Southern title, finishing with a program-record 16 wins. In 2005, Grove City won its first-ever PAC Tournament title and earned ECAC Southern runner-up honors. Grove City set a new school record with 11 shutouts this year.
In 1976, Lyle helped foster the development of the men’s soccer alumni program. The alumni program has been the driving force behind two significant projects this decade – the creation of the Grove City College Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame and the renovations of the Wolverines’ home field, College Field.
Lyle’s impact on area soccer extended beyond the Grove City campus. He was heavily involved in the Grove City Youth Soccer Association from 1977-89. The growth of the youth program paved the way for the development of Grove City High School’s boys soccer program in the late 1980s.
He has also directed the Wolverine Soccer Camp since 1977, which has hosted over 3,500 area youths since its inception. For his efforts with the area’s soccer programs, Lyle earned the College’s Florence McKenzie Campus-Community Award in 1988.
Lyle also served as the College's first softball coach. He compiled a 91-61 record from 1980-88 and is the program's all-time wins leader. Grove City captured two PAC titles under his direction.
He also coached the baseball team from 1989-97 and served as an assistant men's basketball coach from 1972-1979. As an assistant basketball coach, he helped the Wolverines advance to the NCAA Tournament in both 1976 and 1979.
An East Liverpool, Ohio native, he earned his bachelor of arts degree from Muskingum College in 1971. He completed his masters of education degree at Miami University of Ohio and his doctorate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
He has held the rank of Professor of Physical Education since 1990. Lyle has also been pivotal in the development of the department's rapidly-growing Exercise Science program.
He lives in Pine Township with his wife Barbara. The Lyles have three adult children and eight grandchildren.
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