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American University Names Lisa Lyons Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Former UVa. player brings coaching experience from CAA, SEC

Lisa Lyons becomes the second assistant coach hired by new head coach Melissa McFerrin.

June 9, 2004

WASHINGTON – American University has hired Lisa Lyons as an assistant women’s basketball coach, new head coach Melissa McFerrin announced Wednesday.

Lyons joins the Eagles after spending one season as an assistant coach at George Mason University in nearby Fairfax, Va. While with the Patriots, Lyons helped the squad to an 18-11 record and a berth in the 2004 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Prior to her time at GMU, Lyons for two seasons was the administrative assistant coach at the University of South Carolina. In the 2001-02 season, Lyons helped guide the Gamecocks to a 25-7 overall mark, including a 10-4 record in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC). That squad made its first-ever appearance in the “Elite Eight” in the NCAA Tournament and finished the season ranked sixth in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll.

Lyons was a standout basketball player and three-year starter for the University of Virginia from 1996-2000. In her senior season, she was the team captain and was named the Cavaliers’ Most Valuable Player. No slouch in the classroom, Lyons was named to the ACC Honor Roll from 1998-2000 and earned the Bob Williams Award for Academics in 1999. Lyons was also selected to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference in her sophomore year. Lyons graduated from Virginia in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

“Lisa has experienced nothing but success in her young career and brings a wealth of experience to the AU women’s basketball program,” head coach Melissa McFerrin said. “Not only has she gained practical knowledge with winning programs, she has also developed a knowledge of recruiting in the Washington, D.C., metro area, as well as the eastern seaboard. Lisa will also assist greatly in the development of our post players.”

A native of Littleton, Colo., Lyons has also worked as a staffer at the University of Virginia’s summer basketball camps and as an investment banker for Lehman Brothers in New York City. Lyons, formerly Lisa Hosac, and her husband, Greg, a graduate manager for AU’s men’s basketball team, live in Bethesda, Md.