Biography of Jon Lyles:
A native of East Texas, Jon Lyles is a veteran of arena football, and has built a reputation of turning teams around, setting records, lighting up the scoreboard and winning. Having served in the front office in regards to the business side of football Lyles has created multiple corporate partnerships that were monumental assets to the teams that he has served. Lyles was
recently given the opportunity to serve as the Vice President of Football Operations and Head Coach for the West Texas Wildcatters. After taking on the challenge of beginning an expansion franchise, within a 1.5 month time frame, Lyles took on multiple roles within an anxious organization to play first year. Taking on the feat of building a competitive team, Lyles created multiple vital partnerships and recruited talented players in order to manage a handicapped organization survive through the year. He earned pivotal wins for the first year expansion of the organization over the league’s previous champion and league’s current champion. Lyles decided to return to the Arena Football League and joined the AFL's Pittsburgh Power as Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. He joined the organization after the Power started the 2013 season 0-3. When Lyles took over Pittsburgh's offense, the Power was averaging just 27.3 points per game. Despite having to juggle four different quarterbacks, the Power averaged 42.9 points per game for the rest of the season under the helm of Lyles, including an upset win on the road against the Philadelphia Soul, Arena Bowl runners-up. Prior to his arrival, the Power offense was allowing 4.67 sacks per game. However, once Lyles arrived, the Power slashed that mark to 2.67 sacks per game. With Lyles as Offensive Coordinator, the Power posted their highest single game outputs of the season in the following statistical categories: yards per rush, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, yards per pass, touchdown passes, total plays, total offense, yards per play, points, and first downs. Prior to joining the Power, Lyles was hired as the Head Coach at his alma mater, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, in the spring of 2011. Under Lyles' leadership, OPSU finished the 2011 season ranked second in the country in total defense and pass defense, pitched its first shutout in years, beat longtime rival Northwestern for the first time in 28 years, racked up the highest statistical ranking in select categories in years, and won three of the final five games of the season. Lyles has been coaching arena football since 2004. Prior to accepting the position with OPSU, Lyles was serving as the Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator and Director of Football Operations for the New Orleans Voodoo of the AFL. As the Head Coach of the IFL's Amarillo Venom in 2010, Lyles led the squad to a 14-4 finish and clinched a berth in the conference semifinals, having taken over a team that went just 3-13 the previous season. Under the leadership of Lyles, the 2010 Venom won their first division title in six years; set a franchise record for wins in a season, and ranked first in the league in total yards per game, rushing yards per game, average yards per rush, total rushing touchdowns and quarterback efficiency rating. Lyles was selected as a finalist for IFL Head Coach of the Year for his efforts. Lyles helped make history from 2007-09 as Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator of the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings of AF2 as well. In 2007, when Lyles helped lead the Battlewings to the Conference Finals and a franchise-best 13-6 record, Bossier-Shreveport's win total matched the organization's win total from the previous three seasons combined. The offense averaged a league-best of 7.3 yards per play, ranked second in the league in yards per reception, converted over 80% of red zone opportunities, and produced two receivers with over 1,000 yards and another with over 800 yards. The Battlewings offense evolved into one of the league’s most elite scoring units. In 2008, Lyles was named the Assistant Coach of the Year in AF2, as voted on by coaches, owners and members of the media. That year, the Battlewings set a franchise record for points in a season with 917, and won their first-ever division title and playoff game. Four players from Bossier-Shreveport's offense were selected First Team All-AF2. The Battlewing offense finished third in the league in scoring, fifth in total offense and yards per game, second in total offensive touchdowns, third in pass efficiency, fifth in passing offense, fourth in completion percentage and total first downs, first in red zone offense, and first in third and fourth down conversion rates. In 2009, Lyles helped the offense eclipse the previous season's franchise record for points in a season. The Battlewings also repeated as division champions; made the playoffs for the third consecutive season; and, set a franchise record with an 11-5 regular season record. The Battlewings, set a franchise record for rushing yards in a season, finished second in the league in scoring offense: second in rushing yardage and tied for first in sacks allowed, with just six sacks for the entire season. Running back Jason Schule set an AF2 record for rushing yards in a season. Lyles served as the head coach of the IFL's Central Texas Barracudas in 2006, and built a playoff team in the franchise's inaugural season. The offense finished first in the league in yards per completion, rushing touchdowns and fourth down conversions, second in the league in total offense, points per game, total touchdowns, passing yards, first downs passing and rushing, and pass efficiency. The Barracudas also excelled on special teams, leading the league in kickoff return touchdowns and finishing second in kick return yards and PAT conversion rate. In 2005, Lyles showed his versatility as a coach, holding the title of Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Fullbacks and Linebackers Coach for the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of af2. The Yard Dawgz posted a 10-6 record and excelled on special teams that season. Lyles coached the AF2 Kicker of the Year in AJ Haglund, and the kickoff return team finished second in the league in yards per kickoff return, and third in total return yards and return touchdowns. Lyles got his start coaching arena football in 2004 as offensive coordinator of the IFL's Amarillo Dusters. The Dusters were President's Cup Champions with a 13-3 record, and the offense led the league in total offense and scoring, set the league rushing record, and racked up 68 points per game and over 1,000 points for the season. Lyles coached quarterback Julian Reese to IFL MVP honors. Lyles is a 1999 graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he received his BS degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation and he also completed his Masters degree at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas in 2004. An excellent athlete, Lyles starred in both football and baseball at Arp High School as well as with the Aggies. At OPSU as a wide receiver, he compiled career numbers of over 170 receptions, 2,400 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Performing on the baseball diamond for the Aggies, Lyles was Co-Most Valuable Player as a senior in 1999 when he led the team in batting average, stolen bases, and on-base percentage. Lyles also played professional football with the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings (2001) of the Arena Football league 2, and the Louisiana Rangers (2002) of the IFL. Lyles began his coaching career at OPSU in 1999 and served two years as an assistant before moving on to coach the wide receivers at Guymon High School for a year. He then moved on to West Texas A&M to do his graduate work while also serving as a graduate assistant there, handling the wide receivers in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, he coached the Lone Star Conference Receiver of the Year, and two of his receivers (Anthony Armstrong and Charly Martin) landed a spot on NFL rosters. Before making it to the NFL, Armstrong played for the Odessa Roughnecks in 2006. Three of Lyles' receivers in 2003 registered at least 50 receptions, and West Texas A&M improved from 12th in the conference in total offense to second.
