University of Tennessee Athletics
Soccer
Lyons, Mike
Mike Lyons
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- mlyons16@utk.edu
Mike Lyons is set to join Tennessee’s soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Joe Kirt announced Monday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Lyons joins Kirt, associate head coach Jon Morgan and fellow assistant coach Marty Baker.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mike to our program,” said Kirt. “Mike’s experience as a player and coach will bring a new perspective to our staff and playing style. He is passionate and dedicated to players’ growth and development on and off the field. Mike is a great fit in our staff and team culture as we continue our pursuit of SEC Championships and our ultimate goal of bringing a National Championship back to Knoxville.”
Lyons spent the 2023-24 seasons at the University of Dayton, where he was an assistant coach for the men’s team.
During the 2024 season, Lyons helped guide the Flyers to a 14-3-3 overall record and their second consecutive A10 Tournament Championship, which marked the first-ever back-to-back A10 Championships for the program. Additionally, Dayton men’s soccer was the No. 5 overall seed for the 2024 NCAA Tournament (highest in school history) and notched its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.
Dayton men's soccer was also ranked inside the top-25 for seven consecutive weeks during the 2024 season and ranked as high as No. 2 in TopDrawerSoccer.com's national rankings.
In 2023, Lyons aided the Flyers to their fifth A10 Championship in school history after a successful campaign both offensively and defensively.
In addition to Dayton's team success, Lyons helped players develop individually and coached four players who went on to be drafted to MLS clubs, including Aidan O'Connor (1st round - 2024), Kenji Mboma (2nd round - 2024), Geni Kanyane (3rd round - 2024) and Joseph Melto Quiah (3rd round - 2024).
Prior to his time in Dayton, Ohio, Lyons spent the 2022 season with Virginia men’s soccer.
He helped guide the team to a 10-4-5 record overall and 5-1-2 mark in the ACC. The Cavaliers advanced to the ACC semifinals before earning an NCAA Tournament bid as the No. 4 overall seed.
While at Virginia, he worked closely with Leo Afanso who currently plays for MLS side Atlanta United and 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Andreas Ueland. Ueland was also a third-round pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft .
Before his time in Charlottesville, Virginia, Lyons spent two years with Skyline Elite in the ECNL after a professional career overseas. He had stints in Brazil and Ireland before returning to the United States in 2017 to earn his degree from the University of Lynchburg. While there, he began his coaching career at Jefferson Forest High School, leading his team to its first state final since 2010.
Lyons and his wife, Abigael, have two daughters, Kai and Rowyn.
Lyons joins Kirt, associate head coach Jon Morgan and fellow assistant coach Marty Baker.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mike to our program,” said Kirt. “Mike’s experience as a player and coach will bring a new perspective to our staff and playing style. He is passionate and dedicated to players’ growth and development on and off the field. Mike is a great fit in our staff and team culture as we continue our pursuit of SEC Championships and our ultimate goal of bringing a National Championship back to Knoxville.”
Lyons spent the 2023-24 seasons at the University of Dayton, where he was an assistant coach for the men’s team.
During the 2024 season, Lyons helped guide the Flyers to a 14-3-3 overall record and their second consecutive A10 Tournament Championship, which marked the first-ever back-to-back A10 Championships for the program. Additionally, Dayton men’s soccer was the No. 5 overall seed for the 2024 NCAA Tournament (highest in school history) and notched its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.
Dayton men's soccer was also ranked inside the top-25 for seven consecutive weeks during the 2024 season and ranked as high as No. 2 in TopDrawerSoccer.com's national rankings.
In 2023, Lyons aided the Flyers to their fifth A10 Championship in school history after a successful campaign both offensively and defensively.
In addition to Dayton's team success, Lyons helped players develop individually and coached four players who went on to be drafted to MLS clubs, including Aidan O'Connor (1st round - 2024), Kenji Mboma (2nd round - 2024), Geni Kanyane (3rd round - 2024) and Joseph Melto Quiah (3rd round - 2024).
Prior to his time in Dayton, Ohio, Lyons spent the 2022 season with Virginia men’s soccer.
He helped guide the team to a 10-4-5 record overall and 5-1-2 mark in the ACC. The Cavaliers advanced to the ACC semifinals before earning an NCAA Tournament bid as the No. 4 overall seed.
While at Virginia, he worked closely with Leo Afanso who currently plays for MLS side Atlanta United and 2022 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Andreas Ueland. Ueland was also a third-round pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft .
Before his time in Charlottesville, Virginia, Lyons spent two years with Skyline Elite in the ECNL after a professional career overseas. He had stints in Brazil and Ireland before returning to the United States in 2017 to earn his degree from the University of Lynchburg. While there, he began his coaching career at Jefferson Forest High School, leading his team to its first state final since 2010.
Lyons and his wife, Abigael, have two daughters, Kai and Rowyn.
SOC | ALLY ZAZZARA POSTGAME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9.7.25)
Sunday, September 07
SOC | JOE KIRT POSTGAME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9.7.25)
Sunday, September 07
SOC | JENNA STAYART POSTGAME VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (9.7.25)
Sunday, September 07
SOC | Joe Kirt Media Availability (9.1.25)
Monday, September 01
