WVU President E. Gordon Gee Comments on Shane Lyons, State of Football Program

West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee released his comments on the parting of ways with Director of Athletics Shane Lyons. The university officially announced the outing on Monday morning.

“I deeply appreciate Shane’s leadership over the past eight years and I wish him well,” Gee said. “But with the ever-changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics, I believe this is an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to our program.”

Lyons spent seven years serving as WVU’s Director of Athletics. WV MetroNews’ Hoppy Kercheval reports that Gee met with Lyons yesterday. Lyons was offered to stay within the athletic department as an associate vice president, to which Lyons rejected the offer. In Kercheval’s report, he described the parting as “does not appear to be amicable.”

Gee also commented on the state of the football program and head coach Neal Brown. Brown has been on the hot seat as of late but the team defeated Oklahoma for the first time in 14 years on Saturday. Gee stated that he stands with Brown currently.

“We are supporting Coach Neal Brown and our team as we complete our season over the next few weeks,” Gee said. “We are aware there are some deficiencies, but we have not given up on the coach and the team, and they have not given up on each other. The evaluation of the football program will be the first task of our new athletic director and no changes will be made until that review has been completed.”

The university announced that Rob Alsop will serve as the Interim Director of Athletics as they search nationwide for Lyon’s replacement. Alsop will speak to the media at 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon.

“I am confident that Rob will lead and assist our coaches, student-athletes and staff during this turning point,” Gee said. “I also know that he will lay the pathways necessary for a new athletic director to make a seamless transition into the role.”