The Converse University Athletic Department announces the promotion of Kevin Lyons to the role of head women’s basketball coach. Lyons served as the interim head coach during the 2025-26 campaign.
“We are building a special program at Converse and to have the support of our administration, coaches, support staff, and student athletes means a lot!” stated Lyons about the removal of his interim tag. “I feel confident in the trajectory of Converse Women’s basketball and I know our culture will inevitably lead to success on and off the court. I am grateful to represent our university and athletic department.”
Lyons joined the Valkyries in July 2024 after spending one year at Newberry College. With Lyon’s assistance, the 2024-25 Valkyries finished top 10 in program history in wins, total points and points allowed. The Valkyires’ defense finished top two in program history in opponent points per game, field goal percentage and three-point percentage.
“Kevin Lyons has demonstrated a strong commitment to developing our student-athletes both on and off the court,” stated Deputy Director of Athletics Randy Loggins. “The energy, accountability, and vision brought during the interim period have positively impacted our program, and we are confident in Kevin’s ability to lead us forward as head coach.”
During his one season as an assistant coach at Converse, Lyons helped the Valkyries to their second consecutive postseason appearance.
During his time at Newberry, Lyons focused on developing post players, a position the Valkyries have excelled at in recent seasons. He increased the scoring output of Newberry’s 2023-24 starting center by almost 10 points per game from the season prior while helping her snag an extra three rebounds per game and become much more efficient shooting from the field and the free throw line. With Lyon’s assistance, that center transferred to Division-I University of Northern Colorado.
Lyons graduated from the University of South Carolina where he was an administrative assistant and scout team player for head coach Dawn Staley’s powerhouse Gamecocks. During his four seasons with the Gamecocks, he helped develop some of the country’s best players, including the NCAA National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston, and eight current WNBA players. Lyons was one of seven scout team players retained by Staley during the Covid-restricted 2020 season. Lyons was also a scout team player for the 2022 National Championship team.
After college, Lyons transitioned to an administrative assistant, helping Staley and her staff recruit the highest level of athletes in the country and internationally. He helped the players during workouts, team practice and shootarounds while retaining some of his in-game bench responsibilities. Proving his value to the Gamecocks over four years, Lyons traveled to the NCAA Division I Final Four with the team in 2023. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina in May 2023.
Lyons served as the head coach for the University of South Carolina women’s club basketball team and worked as a shot clock operator for the men’s team’s summer camps.
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