By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – Illinois State Director of Athletics Larry Lyons has been selected to serve as a member of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee, where he will help coordinate and oversee all aspects of the Division I Baseball Championship.
Lyons replaces former Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman, who resigned from the committee to take a new position at the NCAA National Office as Managing Director of Championships and Alliances. Lyons’ appointment is effective immediately, and will run through Aug. 31, 2017, at which point he will be eligible to be reappointed for a four-year term.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve on the Baseball Committee, as the College World Series is one of the NCAA’s premier events,” Lyons said Tuesday. “I look forward to working with the committee members and NCAA staff in support of this championship.”
The Baseball Committee will evaluate teams throughout the season ahead of the in-person selection meeting. Members of the committee will serve on regional advisory committees and participate in numerous regional and national committee calls.
Other duties include serving as an NCAA Site Representative at Regional and Super Regional tournaments, and attending both an annual in-person meeting, as well as a second annual meeting conducted via teleconference. Members also serve as team liaisons at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
“We welcome Larry to the committee and appreciate his willingness to serve the great game of college baseball,” said Baseball Committee Chair Joel Erdmann, Director of Athletics at South Alabama. “His professional background and expertise demonstrate he is a great addition.”
Lyons has worked in Illinois State’s Athletics Department for over 29 years. He has served in his current role as Director of Athletics since May of 2013.
“I look forward to working with Larry Lyons in his new role as a member of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee,” said Randy Buhr, NCAA Director of Championships and Alliances. “I know that Larry has been able to gain a lot of great experience in his years working at Illinois State that should be beneficial to his service on the committee.”
