Patrick G. Lyons was named 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' first full year as Director of Athletics, the Pirate Blue Athletic Fund, Seton Hall's athletic fundraising vehicle, experienced the most successful year of its history, receiving record contributions to fund critical initiatives to help make the Pirates competitive in the BIG EAST conference and at a national level.

When Lyons arrived at Seton Hall, he established improvements and upgrades to the Pirates' athletic and recreation facilities as a primary goal. Thanks in large part to contributions to Pirate Blue and a commitment from the University to make athletics and recreation a priority for the student-body, Seton Hall has already begun a large number of those enhancements. A new student fitness center is scheduled to be completed by summer 2013 and plans are in place to add a new scoreboard to Owen T. Carroll Field, revamp the student-athlete training room facility and create additional space for Academic Support Services. The men's basketball locker room and women's basketball coaching suite were each renovated during the 2011-12 season.

The Pirates have also experienced a number of on field successes since Lyons came to Seton Hall. The men's basketball team finished the 2011-12 season with a 21-13 overall mark, matching the program's highest win total since the 2003-04 season and advancing to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament. The baseball team captured the BIG EAST Championship at the conclusion of the 2011 season, the third in program history and first since 2001. The women's soccer, volleyball and baseball programs all qualified for BIG EAST Championship competition during the 2011-12 season, with the women's soccer program posting its most successful campaign since 1999.

Lyons has instituted a number of new events to help honor both its current and former student-athletes. In addition to the annual SAAC Student-Athlete Awards Banquet, Seton Hall held its first Senior Awards Banquet as a way to recognize its graduating seniors. He also refined the 2012 SHU Athletics Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony by hosting it in conjunction with a golf tournament at the Fairmount Country Club in Chatham, N.J.

Seton Hall's student-athletes have exhibited success in a number of ways off the court as well, through community service initiatives and achievement in the classroom. The Pirates' community outreach programs demonstrated outstanding involvement from every varsity program during the 2011-12 academic year, as Seton Hall's student-athletes participated in an array of activities to benefit the community. Seton Hall also hosted its First Annual Student-Athlete Leadership Forum, providing its student-athletes with a chance to learn from and meet speakers from across the sports landscape.

Lyons arrived at Seton Hall after spending seven years as Iona College's Director of Athletics, establishing its department as one of the top programs in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He was the chief administrator for the Gaels' 21 NCAA Division I athletics programs.

Lyons' student-athlete centered vision was incorporated into several initiatives at Iona. Working closely with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Lyons emphasized a community service element for all of Iona's 400+ student-athletes and also displayed a deep commitment to student-athlete development and academic standards through additional support services and facilities in both the compliance and academic services offices.

Under Lyons, the Iona athletics department saw unprecedented growth and success both on and off the fields of play. Lyons also made his mark at Iona in fundraising and improvements made to athletics facilities. The Iona Gaels Capital Improvements Fund was created by Lyons as the first capital fundraising effort in the department's history.

Before elevating to Director of Athletics at Iona, 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. Prior to that role, Lyons served as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance.

As a coach, Lyons led the Iona golf team to its most successful four-year span. At the helm of the Gaels from 1998-02, he directed the squad to three MAAC Championships and earned a berth in the NCAA Golf Championship in each of his three full seasons.

A native of Providence, R.I., 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. 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 is married to the former Rachel Cintolo, who is a member of the faculty at Rutgers University.