Coach COREY Lyon

Carolina softball head coach Megan Smith Lyon announced the addition of assistant coach Corey Lyon to the Tar Heels' coaching staff in June 2023. 

"We're excited to welcome Corey to the Tar Heel family," Smith Lyon said. "He has proven that he can develop an elite, nationally-ranked offense capable of breaking records. His ability to connect with players and build relationships makes him a perfect fit for the culture we are establishing here in Chapel Hill. I can't wait to see the impact he has on the team this year."

Lyon comes to UNC after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall. During his time in Huntington, where he served as the Herd's hitting coach, Marshall rewrote the offensive record book. 

In 2023, the Thundering Herd led the Sun Belt Conference in batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.421), scoring (6.42 runs per game), triples per game (0.35) and walks (201). Marshall also had the league's top two batting average leaders, Autumn Owen and Alex Coleman. Owen was the league's triple crown winner, leading the Sun Belt in batting average (.444), home runs (19) and RBIs (71). 

During Lyon's first season in 2019, Marshall broke or tied a total of 30 records with most coming on the offensive side, including home runs (79), runs scored (339), doubles (83), slugging percentage (.489) RBI (312), total bases (785), walks (220) and hit-by-pitches (74). 

"Coach Smith Lyon's passion and enthusiasm for this university is contagious," Lyon said. "I'm so excited to be a part of the Tar Heel family."

Lyon joined the Marshall staff after four seasons as the head coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The Warhawks totaled 111 wins, including two 30-win seasons, during his time. ULM also had ten players named to All-Sun Belt Conference teams, two honored as NFCA All-Region and six players chosen by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for All-Louisiana recognition. In 2015 and 2016 UL-Monroe was honored with the Sun Belt Conference Team GPA Award.

His previous coaching stops also include South Arkansas and Paris Junior College (Texas).

Lyon received his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Newman (Kan.) University in 1995 and his master's in school leadership from Baker (Kan.) University in 2005. 

Lyon is married to Megan Smith Lyon. He has three daughters, Cheyanne, Carson and Ciarra and a stepson, Cooper. He also has a son-in-law, Stephen North, and one grandson, Emmett North.