Roanoke - Legendary Washington & Lee coach Joe Lyles has died at age 83 in Roanoke. Lyles coached and taught at W&L for 50 years. Lyles coached soccer and baseball for nearly 20 seasons and taught every required class in the school's physical education curriculum.
"Joe Lyles enriched the fabric of life at Washington and Lee," said Mike Walsh, the longtime former athletics director at W&L, who worked with Lyles for 17 years. "Whether it be for a Lylesism, from a conversation at a W&L athletic contest or from being coached or taught by Joe—he will be remembered as an unforgettable person. He dearly loved this University, its students and our athletes. He was our most devoted fan and always saw the good in young men and women. Oh, how he loved the Generals. He will be missed and fondly spoken of for generations to come."
