MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University’s new athletic director should fit in comfortably, says Parkersburg businessman Jimmy Colombo.
“Home is still home,” Colombo told MetroNews “Talkline” on Monday after WVU announced the hiring of Parkersburg native Shane Lyons. “I think people will be totally surprised and happy with Shane.”
Lyons, wrapping up his third year as deputy athletics director at the University of Alabama, was hired to replace Oliver Luck, who is leaving for a post with the NCAA. Like Luck, Lyons is a WVU graduate, having earned his undergrad and graduate degrees in the late 1980s.
Lyons has worked for nearly 26 years in college sports administration. And Colombo, having known Lyons his entire life, said the resume is impressive.
“He has been with the NCAA for 10 years, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s upper echelon for 10 years, worked three years at Texas Tech and another power conference at Alabama. That really speaks highly of him,” he said.
WVU president E. Gordon Gee welcomed Lyons home in a news release Monday morning.
“We are delighted to welcome Shane Lyons back to his home state of West Virginia and to his alma mater,” Gee said. “He brings a wealth of experience in both university and conference athletics administration. In addition, as a graduate of West Virginia University, Shane understands what it means to be a Mountaineer. We look forward to him joining our team and leading our athletic department to new heights.”
Lyons, who has a five-year contract worth $550,000 a year plus incentives, said he never stopped following his alma mater.
“It is truly a dream come true for me to return to my home state and to WVU as director of intercollegiate athletics and associate vice president. I would like to thank Dr. Gee for the confidence he has placed in me,” Lyons said in the release. “I have followed the Mountaineers closely ever since I left Morgantown after graduate school, and I have been consistently impressed with the success that WVU student-athletes have had on the playing fields and in the classroom, as well as the positive impact Mountaineer student-athletes have in the community.”
MetroNews Sports Director Tony Caridi said Lyons’ familiarity with the state and WVU will be invaluable.
“It’s a good get and what I mean by ‘get’ is understand what WVU is,” Caridi said. “What it means to the people, he obviously knows that intimately. He knows the challenges, he knows the positives and he knows the benefits of it.”
Caridi said Lyons’ experience will allow him to hit the ground running.
“I think he probably won’t have any issues or weaknesses once he steps into this WVU job. He’ll be ready to go.”
Caridi compared Lyons’ return to that of basketball coach Bob Huggins.
“He will come energized. He will come in with great momentum,” Caridi said. “Your heart has to be here and all indications are that his heart wants to come back here to WVU. Much like Huggs, he wanted to come back to West Virginia.”