After 14 years at the helm of the Grand Valley State University baseball team, head coach Steve Lyon announced Thursday that he will retire following the 2012 season.

Coming off one of the best seasons in GVSU history – one in which the Lakers went 52-5 before falling in the NCAA Division II College World Series – Lyon has led the team to a 26-10 (16-10 GLIAC) record so far this season.

GVSU has served as the most notable locale for Lyon in his head-coaching career, but he also spent five seasons at then-GLIAC Oakland University. In his career as the Lakers’ head coach, he has compiled a record of 648-300-3, good for a .683 winning percentage.

Lyon has led the Lakers to the College World Series five times in his 14 years, including eight GLIAC regular-season titles.

“We would like to thank Steve for his incredible contribution to not only the GVSU baseball program, but Grand Valley State University,” GVSU Athletic Director Tim Selgo told GVSULakers.com. “His record as head coach and where he has taken our baseball program speaks for itself. Our program has played at the highest level of Division II?baseball, but Steve has also been a great mentor to the young men he has coached.”

Selgo has said the search for Lyon’s replacement will begin immediately.

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