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John Lyons (American football coach)

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John Lyons
Biographical details
Born (1952-03-10) March 10, 1952 (age 72)
West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Playing career
1972–1974Penn
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1974–1984Penn (DC)
1985–1987Boston University (DC)
1988–1991Dartmouth (DC)
1992–2004Dartmouth
2005Cologne Centurions (DB)
2006–2007Cologne Centurions (DC/DB)
2007Cologne Centurions (interim HC)
2011–2021New Hampshire (DC/DB)
Head coaching record
Overall60–68–1 (college)
0–1 (NFL Europe)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 Ivy (1992, 1996)

John Lyons (born March 10, 1952)[1] is a former American football head coach best known for his 13 years as head coach of Dartmouth College.

Lyons was an all-Ivy defensive back while playing for the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating in 1974 he worked as an assistant at Penn for the next 11 seasons, eventually riding up to become defensive coordinator. In 1988, he was brought to Dartmouth by then-coach Buddy Teevens. When Teevens moved on, Lyons was promoted to head coach in 1992.[2][3]

During his time as head coach, Lyons was successful during his first six seasons, winning two Ivy League titles and posting five winning seasons. The 1996 team won every game it played for a 10–0 record (with seven Ivy League games), becoming the first undefeated Dartmouth team since 1970. The ten wins also set a new record for most wins in a season (as with all Ivy League schools, they do not play bowl games). As of 2024, it remains the last unbeaten Dartmouth team.[2][4] He also coached future NFL quarterback Jay Fiedler.[2] However, the program tailed off after 1997 and the school would finish in last place four times in the next seven years.[5] His later years saw increasing criticism from fans and the local media as his decision-making was called into question.[6] He was dismissed by the school after the 2004 season.[7]

After being fired by Dartmouth he coached in NFL Europe for the Cologne Centurions.[8] He held the position from 2005 to 2007 and concurrently coached at Kimball Union Academy; he also was the school's athletic director, starting in 2008, and stayed in both jobs through 2010. In January 2011, he joined the University of New Hampshire's football program as its defensive coordinator[9] and retired in 2021.[10]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Dartmouth Big Green (Ivy League) (1992–2004)
1992 Dartmouth 8–2 6–1 T–1st
1993 Dartmouth 7–3 6–1 2nd
1994 Dartmouth 4–6 2–5 T–7th
1995 Dartmouth 7–2–1 4–2–1 4th
1996 Dartmouth 10–0 7–0 1st
1997 Dartmouth 8–2 6–1 2nd
1998 Dartmouth 2–8 1–6 T–7th
1999 Dartmouth 2–8 2–5 6th
2000 Dartmouth 2–8 1–6 T–7th
2001 Dartmouth 1–8 1–6 T–7th
2002 Dartmouth 3–7 2–5 T–6th
2003 Dartmouth 5–5 4–3 T–2nd
2004 Dartmouth 1–9 1–6 T–7th
Dartmouth: 60–68–1 43–47–1
Total: 60–68–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Football Coaches Career" (search for Lyons under Player/Coach Search). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Burrick, David (December 1, 2004). "Lyons dismissed as Dartmouth football coach". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  3. ^ "Dartmouth's Winning Tradition". Dartmouth College. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  4. ^ ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game. ESPN Books. 2005. p. 1067. ISBN 1-4013-3703-1.
  5. ^ 2010 Ivy League Football Media Guide (PDF). Ivy League. 2010. pp. 29–33. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  6. ^ Krishnamurthy, Anand (December 2, 2004). "Lyons Out as Dartmouth Football Coach". Columbia Spectator. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  7. ^ "Worst school record seals Lyons' fate". ESPN. Associated Press. November 30, 2004. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  8. ^ Zhe, Mike (April 7, 2011). "With Lyons running defense, UNH is well-coordinated". The Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "Former Dartmouth Head Football Coach John Lyons Named UNH Defensive Coordinator" (Press release). University of New Hampshire. January 21, 2011. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  10. ^ rbrown (December 24, 2021). "Lyons calls it a career". New Hampshire Football Report. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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