In 43 distinguished years as a coach, educator and administrator, Don Lyle influenced countless students, student-athletes and colleagues throughout his career at Grove City College.
Lyle joined the College’s athletic department in 1972 as head men’s soccer coach and assistant men’s basketball coach. He guided Grove City’s men’s soccer team from 1972 to 2005 and finished his coaching career as the program’s all-time leader in wins with 277. As head coach, he led the Wolverines to six postseason berths, including a pair of trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Lyle also directed Grove City to its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s soccer title in 1996 as Grove City went 16-2. The Wolverines set a school record for victories in a season and won their first ECAC title. In 2005, his final season as head coach, Lyle guided Grove City to its first-ever PAC Tournament title. He earned the conference’s Coach of the Year award.
He was assistant men’s basketball coach and junior varsity men’s basketball coach from 1972 to 1979. Both the 1976 and 1979 basketball teams advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Grove City launched its women’s softball program in 1980 and Lyle served as its first head coach. He directed the team to a 91-61 record from 1980 to 1988, including the 1987 conference title.
He then spent nine years, from 1989 to 1997, as Grove City’s head baseball coach. His teams won 81 games during his tenure as coach.
The College promoted Lyle to chairman of the department of physical education in 1996. The College appointed him as athletic director in 2003. He held both positions until his retirement in 2015.
Lyle received the Florence McKenzie Campus-Community Award for his community work in the Grove City area in 1988. In 2016, the NCAA honored Lyle with the Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award.
A native of Calcutta, Ohio, Lyle earned his bachelor of arts degree from Muskingum College in 1971 and added his master’s degree in education from Miami of Ohio in 1972. Lyle received his doctorate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1989.
