NEW ROCHELLE – Patrick Lyons hired Emma Hayes as Iona College’s women’s soccer coach more than two decades ago and watched her career take off after she left the school.
Last weekend, Hayes led the U.S. women’s soccer team to the gold medal at the Paris Summer Olympics. From small-school Iona in New Rochelle to the world stage – that is some jump – but Lyons said that he isn’t surprised by Hayes’ incredible success.
“I think I get some undo credit because people tell me that I found Emma,” said Lyons, now the Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Chief Operations Officer at Seton Hall University. “I think Emma would have ended up in this spot anyway. I think it is great that her success has helped Iona gain some recognition. It’s even better that Emma reflects positively on her time at Iona and still talks about it, even after she won a gold medal.”
Hayes coached at Iona from 2003-06 and during that time the team won 22 games, the most in a three-year stretch in program history. Hayes led the Gaels to two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship games. Iona won two games the year before Hayes took over.
“Emma was all you wanted in a coach,” Lyons said. “She was a good person who was high-energy and created a good culture around her. Emma elevated the team quickly with limited resources which is not easy to do in Division I athletics.”
A native of England, Hayes, 47, Hayes left Iona to coach in the U.K. for three years, before leading the Chicago Stars of Women’s Professional Soccer from 2008-10. Hayes coached the Chelsea women’s soccer club for 12 years, before taking the U.S. women’s soccer job last November.
She led the team to the gold medal in only her 10th game coaching the team. The win in Paris clinched Team USA’s first gold medal in 12 years.
“I am so proud when Emma talks about how America made her and have enjoyed watching her climb up the coaching ladder,” said Elizabeth Roper, who coached against Hayes at Marist. “I knew she would be successful because she was willing to roll up her sleeves and coach at a tiny Division I school. She had so many other great qualities and wanted to share her knowledge and promote the game. Emma was just so smart and a great tactician of the sport. I certainly remember her, and I hope that she remembers me.”