DANVILLE — Jill Lyons has conflicting feelings when it comes to her move from the classroom to the athletic director’s chair at Danville Schools, starting on Aug. 1, 2025.
“It’s bittersweet,” Lyons said. “I love what I do. I’ve loved being a teacher, but I just felt like I wanted a change.”
Lyons brings with her a wealth of experience on the field and in the classroom. She graduated from Loudonville High School and went on from there to Ashland University, where she earned a teaching degree and played softball.
After graduating from AU, she taught and coached softball at Berlin Hiland. Lyons met and married her husband, who is from Danville.
“A position opened up here in 2012 for a second-grade teacher and eventually varsity softball coach,” Lyons said.
She handled that position from 2013 to 2019, with the highlight of her coaching career coming in 2017 when the Blue Devils finished as state runners-up.
Lyons was Central District Coach of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Blue Devils won district softball championships five straight seasons from 2015 through 2019. Her coaching record was 132-34.
“I know that being an AD will be a lot like coaching. I will be surrounded by amazing coaches that I will be able to support,” she said. “You’re only as good as people you surround yourself with.”
While Lyons is not the first full-time athletic director at Danville, she’s the first one in recent memory to be able to dedicate full time to the position.
Lyons believes that the Board of Education realized the need for a full-time AD.
She described her job as “someone who can advocate for the coaches, look out for the student athletes, keep the academic standards high and work with the community.”
While she understands the position requires a multifaceted approach, she also plans an emphasis on “rewarding” the student-athlete for maintaining high educational standards, such as scholar-athlete recognition.
Another aspect of the athletic program that has her attention is strength and conditioning.
“Being a smaller school we have a lot of multi-sport athletes and we need that to continue to be successful,” Lyons said.
“We have a lot of coaches who have very solid knowledge of speed and agility — so I know for sure that the student-athletes will be in the best shape that they need to be because of our coaches.”
Lyons sees the success of the athletic program resting on a three-legged stool, administrative support, solid coaching in tandem with dedicated athletes and community involvement.
“We have great student-athletes that work really hard, some coaches that have been around a long time and some newer coaches and that makes a difference as well,” Lyons said.
As for the third leg of the success stool, Lyons credits the Danville community for its fervent support.
“Everybody takes pride in all of the extracurriculars that we offer whether it be athletics, performing arts, mock trials or marching band,” Lyons said. “I think we mesh really well together and that is very important.”
Lyons believes the secret to any successful organization is communication and that is high on her “to-do” list.
“(It’s important to) take time to meet with the coaches pre-season, one on one and asking, what are their goals, what are your expectations, what do you need, how can I help?” she said.
The athletic director does not plan on being a stranger at games, matches, and tournaments.
“To me relationships are everything,” Lyons said. “I’ve learned to build relationships with my students, their parents and that helps take me right into this role.”
Although she is a transplant, the AD is right at home in Danville.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity,” Lyons said. “I did not grow up here but I have grown to love this community and I just hope I can represent our student athletes, coaches and the community in the best manner possible.”