Bert Lyle made a local impact through more than two decades of teaching and coaching at Texas Woman's University.
But his impact on track and field and women's athletics in general could be felt on national and international levels.
Lyle died early Wednesday at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, where he was admitted over the weekend and later diagnosed with pneumonia. He was 83.
Lyle was the track coach and athletic director at TWU from 1965 to 1982, before he became the school's basketball coach for four seasons as the program transitioned to NCAA Division II.
During his tenure, the Pioneers won three Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national championships, including the inaugural AIAW title in 1969, and two U.S. Track & Field Federation team titles.
His innovative training methods and scientific analysis of women's sprinting and hurdling techniques made him an important figure in the development of the sport and in the early years of women's collegiate athletics.
"What made him so special as a coach and a person was his caring nature," said Louise Ritter, who won a gold medal in the high jump at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. "He could just see what each individual needed to make them become successful. That was a gift that he had."
For 15 years, Lyle coached Ritter, who was a standout at TWU and went on to become a three-time Olympian in the high jump.
He also coached Leleith Hodges, a two-time Olympian representing Jamaica, and worked with other Olympic athletes for more than 40 years.
"I think he completely molded me as an individual," Ritter said. "He not only took me in and developed my athletic potential, but he also molded me for the future in terms of the success that I was going to have and how to handle that success. He prepared me mentally as much as physically during my career."
The TWU track team was a legitimate national power under Lyle. The Pioneers finished in the top three in the AIAW standings in each of its first seven years. During the 15-year history of the AIAW, the Pioneers' 465 team points were second only to UCLA.
"It's a huge loss," said TWU athletic director Chalese Connors. "All he did was open his mouth and you were drawn into the conversation. He had a great personality and a warm spirit. He wanted to give women every opportunity to succeed."
In 1978, Lyle hired Frank Kudlac, a graduate assistant coach from Philadelphia, to jump-start a club gymnastics program at TWU. Kudlac credits Lyle with the administrative support necessary to elevate the program to NCAA Division III status in its early years.
"My interview with him was down on the track, watching Louise Ritter high jump," Kudlac said. "We had a great relationship. His athletes loved him. He really took me under his wing and supported me."
The TWU gymnastics program has developed into a powerhouse at the NCAA Division II level under Kudlac, who is retiring this spring after 33 seasons. Kudlac cites Lyle's early leadership in part for that success.
"He was always there for the athletes and the coaches," Kudlac said. "He would come in my office and sit down and start telling me stories. It was just incredible to listen to him spin those yarns."
After retiring from TWU, Lyle served as the women's sprint and relay coach for the U.S. Olympic team at the 1992 Barcelona Games. During his career, he also was chairman of the U.S. Olympic Sprint Development Committee and the USATF Junior Development Committee for sprints, as well as the USATF women's elite sprint coordinator.
Connors said Lyle remained an integral part of the TWU athletic program after his retirement, frequently volunteering on committees and offering his assistance behind the scenes.
He was inducted into the TWU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.
In 2005, Lyle was selected to receive the Giegengack Award from USA Track & Field for his contributions to the sport. Two years later, USATF presented him with the Heliodoro and Patricia Rico Lifetime Achievement Award.
Perhaps Lyle's biggest accolade came in December, when he was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Ritter accepted the honor on his behalf.
Lyle, who was born in Tupelo, Miss., was a Korean War veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University, a master's degree from Southern Methodist University and a doctorate from the University of Texas. He lived in Denton since 1964.
Lyle is survived by his wife of 56 years, Pris, and two sons, Bert E. Lyle III of Huntsville and Frank Lyle of Argyle.
Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. today at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home in Denton. A funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church.
TODD JORGENSON can be reached at 940-566-6871. His e-mail address is tjorgenson@dentonrc.com .
 
