Lyons was a five-year member of the cross country and track and field teams at Missouri Southern. He was a seven-time All-Conference selection in cross country and track and field, helping the Lions to five different team MIAA titles (cross country – 2000-2003, indoor – 2004).

He was named the 2002 MSSU Outstanding Athlete and still holds the Missouri Southern record in the outdoor 5k. He was a three-time MIAA Athlete of the Week, while winning four individual MIAA titles in 2002 alone (cross country, indoor 3k and 5k and outdoor 5k). He was the 2004 MIAA Indoor Track Championships High Point Scorer, while being named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Regional Indoor Athlete of the Year that season.

Lyons was a two-time cross country All-Region selection and earned two All-American honors.

Lyons graduated from Missouri Southern in 2004 with a degree in environmental health and micro biology. He and his wife, Margaret, have three children, Lillian, Lukas and Lincoln and reside in Glendale, Mo. He is currently the Director of Race Management for GO! St. Louis, where he directs running events, including the GO! St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend that hosts over 20,000 runners every April.