UPDATE: 3:40 p.m.
Announced Monday afternoon, former WVU athletic director Shane Lyons has returned to the University of Alabama.
Lyons has been named the executive deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer for the Crimson Tide athletic department. The news comes one week after Lyons was asked to step down from his role as director of athletics at WVU.
Prior to his tenure in Morgantown, Lyons served as deputy director of athletics at Alabama from 2011-2015.
“Shane is a well-respected administrator in college athletics who brings a variety of experiences and wealth of knowledge to Alabama,” Alabama AD Greg Byrne said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have Shane back in Tuscaloosa to join our executive leadership team.”
“I want to thank Greg Byrne for this tremendous opportunity to return to The University of Alabama,” Lyons added. “I have great respect for Greg and Alabama Athletics, and I am looking forward to returning to Tuscaloosa. My previous time at Alabama provided me with great opportunities, and I am eager to join Greg’s team and help the Crimson Tide continue to have one of the best and most successful departments in the nation.”
Original Story:
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University will pay former director of athletics Shane Lyons more than $2 million as part of a separation agreement signed last Friday.
The agreement, dated Nov. 18, 2022, outlines the details of Lyons’ departure from the University and the amount of money he is owed from his contract.
On Sunday, Nov. 14, Lyons was asked, and agreed, to step down from his position as athletic director and associate vice president. Lyons will remain employed by the University through Jan. 4, 2023 with the title “Special Assistant to the President.”
On Jan. 14 of this year, Lyons was given a contract extension that the University will now have to pay out in wake of his departure.
Lyons will receive an annualized salary of $895,000 through Jan. 4 in addition to $312,000 in contract incentives he earned in 2022 prior to stepping down.
In accordance with his contract extension, Lyons will be paid $931,000 for 2023 and $931,000 for 2024. He will also receive $287,500 for agreeing to the terms of the separation agreement, coming to a total of $2,149,500.
Lyons will be paid biweekly through Nov. 14, 2024.
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop was named interim athletic director last Monday following Lyons’ firing. At the time, Alsop said the University hopes to make a new hire within three to four weeks.
WVU has retained the search firm Turnkey ZRG to help with the hiring process for $125,000.
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