MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Senior associate director of athletics Dr. Bridget Lyons has accepted the position of athletic director at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. Lyons' official start date at Shenandoah is January 15. She is the first woman to lead the Hornet athletics department in this capacity and the sixth person to hold the full-time athletics director position at Shenandoah.
"We had more than 170 applicants for the job and Bridget rose above a very strong field that included a number of sitting athletic directors," Dr. Fitzsimmons said. "We wanted a person who is committed to the Division III model, and Bridget epitomizes that ideal of athletics, academics and community service. We are excited to welcome her to the Shenandoah Valley and to the Winchester/Frederick County community."
At Shenandoah, she will oversee all aspects of the 21-sport athletic program, including general and sport operations, fiscal affairs, facilities, strategic planning and external relations. The NCAA Division III program, with over 500 student-athletes and 75 staff and coaches, competes in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
"It is an exciting time to be joining the Shenandoah University community. The institution is constantly moving forward with academic, campus and athletic initiatives," Lyons said. "I want to thank President Fitzsimmons and the search committee for this opportunity. I look forward to working with a dedicated group of coaches, staff, and student-athletes."
Lyons joined the Buccaneer athletic department in 2006 and has been on staff for 12 of the Buccaneers' 18 national championships. Barry has received the NCAA Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence for achieving four-year Academic Success Rates of 90 percent or higher in Division II for four straight years.
She is a current member of the Division II Management Council, Planning and Finance Committee, former Chair of the Committee on Infractions and has served on several regional sport committees. At the conference level, she served on the championship oversight committee, strategic planning group and conference visitation group. She has served on numerous university committees, including the compliance committee, which she chaired, and the Title IX committee.
"I have had 11 years at one of the best Division II schools in the country and will be taking away a lot of great experiences and memories," Lyons said. "I want to thank Mike Covone and the University Leadership for all the opportunities I have had at Barry."
