Staffing Changes Announced for Track and Field Team
8/21/2019 6:43:00 AM | Track and Field
Dana Lyon will take over coaching all throwing events, while Matt Layten will assist the distance squad.
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Head coach Ralph Lindeman recently announced the reorganization of the coaching staff for the Air Force track and field team. Dana Lyon, who spent the past two seasons coaching the javelin, will now oversee the Falcons' entire throwing program, while Matt Layten, who has served as the squad's Director of Operations since 2018, will move into a coaching role and assist the Falcons' middle distance and distance runners.
"We've had the right people in our program," Lindeman said. "We've now put them in the coaching positions that can best serve our team."
Lyon, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time Mountain West champion in the javelin throw, will take over the coaching and recruiting duties for all four throwing events after spending the past two seasons focusing on the javelin and managing the team's strength and conditioning program. In her two years as the Falcons' javelin coach, Lyon saw her athletes claim five bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earn two all-conference medals and account for seven scoring finishes at the conference meet.
"I've been so pleased with Dana's dynamic coaching style, and want all of our throwers to benefit from her energy, enthusiasm and expertise," Lindeman stated. "As our staff's only USAFA grad, Dana brings a wealth of experience, as an Air Force Academy cadet and USAF officer, that all of our staff can learn from."
"I am thrilled to lead the Throws' squad, which has a strong history of great throwers," Lyon said. "I'm humbled by Coach Lindeman's belief in my abilities to coach these athletes. I am whole-heartedly invested in elevating our throwers potential and hope to give them the experiences I had when I threw here."
Layten, who joined the staff as a part-time recruiting assistant in late 2017 and was promoted to a full-time Operations position several months later, was elevated into a coaching position this fall to assist Ryan Cole with the Falcons' cross country program. Layten, who spent three years assisting the distance team at San Jose State before joining the Academy staff, will also work with Cole to coach the middle distance and distance runners during the track and field season.
"Because of the numbers he deals with, Ryan needed more assistance than we'd been granting him –both on the track with coaching, and off the track with administrative and recruiting help," Lindeman commented. "Matt was the logical choice, given his two years of dedication and devotion to the program. He's got a really good work ethic and a terrific chemistry with our staff."
"I'm very grateful to be a part of Coach Lindeman and Coach Cole's coaching staff at the Air Force Academy this year," Layten said. "I'm excited for the competitive opportunity to contribute in a coaching role towards the team's efforts in competing for Mountain West Championships and strong team success at the national level, in both cross country and track and field."
"We've had the right people in our program," Lindeman said. "We've now put them in the coaching positions that can best serve our team."
Lyon, a two-time NCAA champion and three-time Mountain West champion in the javelin throw, will take over the coaching and recruiting duties for all four throwing events after spending the past two seasons focusing on the javelin and managing the team's strength and conditioning program. In her two years as the Falcons' javelin coach, Lyon saw her athletes claim five bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earn two all-conference medals and account for seven scoring finishes at the conference meet.
"I've been so pleased with Dana's dynamic coaching style, and want all of our throwers to benefit from her energy, enthusiasm and expertise," Lindeman stated. "As our staff's only USAFA grad, Dana brings a wealth of experience, as an Air Force Academy cadet and USAF officer, that all of our staff can learn from."
"I am thrilled to lead the Throws' squad, which has a strong history of great throwers," Lyon said. "I'm humbled by Coach Lindeman's belief in my abilities to coach these athletes. I am whole-heartedly invested in elevating our throwers potential and hope to give them the experiences I had when I threw here."
Layten, who joined the staff as a part-time recruiting assistant in late 2017 and was promoted to a full-time Operations position several months later, was elevated into a coaching position this fall to assist Ryan Cole with the Falcons' cross country program. Layten, who spent three years assisting the distance team at San Jose State before joining the Academy staff, will also work with Cole to coach the middle distance and distance runners during the track and field season.
"Because of the numbers he deals with, Ryan needed more assistance than we'd been granting him –both on the track with coaching, and off the track with administrative and recruiting help," Lindeman commented. "Matt was the logical choice, given his two years of dedication and devotion to the program. He's got a really good work ethic and a terrific chemistry with our staff."
"I'm very grateful to be a part of Coach Lindeman and Coach Cole's coaching staff at the Air Force Academy this year," Layten said. "I'm excited for the competitive opportunity to contribute in a coaching role towards the team's efforts in competing for Mountain West Championships and strong team success at the national level, in both cross country and track and field."
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