HAMILTON — June Jones, Head Coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, announced Monday that Robert Lyles has been added to the coaching staff as the team’s linebackers coach.

Lyles, 57, brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the Tiger-Cats at both the professional and collegiate ranks, most recently serving as Associate Head Coach for the Defence and Outside Linebackers Coach at the University of the Incarnate Word in 2017. Lyles, who spent three seasons with the Cardinals in total, also served as the team’s Linebackers Coach from 2015-16.

The former National Football League linebacker served as Inside Linebackers Coach at Jackson State University in 2014 and held numerous defensive coaching roles at the United States Military Academy from 2007 to 2013. In addition to substantial experience as a head coach and defensive coordinator in the Arena Football League throughout his career, Lyles spent two seasons working under the NFL’s Minority Coach Fellowship Program and completed internships with the Buffalo Bills (2003) and Tennessee Titans (2004).

Lyles, a Texas Christian University product, suited up in eight seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers (1984-89) and Atlanta Falcons (1990-91) at linebacker, playing under current Tiger-Cats Defensive Coordinator Jerry Glanville who was his head coach in both locations. He also crossed paths with Hamilton’s current Head Coach June Jones, who was Houston’s Quarterbacks Coach in 1987-88 and Atlanta’s Offensive Coordinator in 1991.