Molloy University Athletics

Susan Cassidy-Lyke was named the Head Softball Coach prior to the 2006 season, returning to her alma mater as the Director of Athletics and Head Softball Coach in January 2006. In 19 seasons, her teams have made great leaps and bounds in the win column. Cassidy-Lyke enters 2025 with a record of 570-448-1, good for a .560 winning percentage, the highest of any previous Molloy softball coach. 

Cassidy-Lyke has led the Lions to three National Championship Tournament appearances, capturing the East Regional crown in 2017, 2013, and 2010. The program has appeared in 14 East Coast Conference Tournaments (four titles) and eight NCAA Regional Tournaments in her tenure at the helm. 

Coaching Record (2006-Pres.) 570-448-1

NCAA Tournament Appearances 8

Regional Championships 3

Conference Tournament Appearances 14

Conference Championships 4

All-Conference Selections 87

All-Region Selections (NFCA/D2CCA) 55

All-American Selections (NFCA/D2CCA) 10

Coach of the Year Awards 5

Most recently, in 2017, Cassidy-Lyke led the Lions to a NCAA East Regional Championship, advancing to the program's third National Championship appearance. In 2013, the team earned a program-record program record 53 wins following an ECC Championship, NCAA East Regional Championship, and National Championship appearance. From 2009-12, she earned four consecutive ECC Coach of the Year awards, and won three straight ECC Championships (2011-13).

In 2011, Cassidy-Lyke guided the Lions to their first ECC title in program history, ending a 16-year drought. Before that, in 2010, Cassidy-Lyke and the Lions turned away all doubters as Molloy put together a then program-best record of 43-21, achieved a No. 10 national ranking in the NFCA Division II tally, and secured its first-ever NCAA Division II East Region Championship. In the process, the maroon and white made a trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time in program history.

Her teams hold numerous program season records including: wins, winning percentage, consecutive wins, hits, runs batted in, doubles, home runs, total bases, walks, pitching wins, complete games, strikeouts, strikeouts-per-7 innings, earned run average, shutouts, lowest opponent batting average, saves, fielding percentage, double plays, and fewest errors, as well as several game records.

Cassidy-Lyke's players have received tremendous accolades under her tutelage. She has coached players who had garnered: an NFCA All-American selection, 28 NFCA All-East Region honors, 87 ECC All-Conference selections, 28 Daktronics/CCA All-East Region honors, nine Daktronics/CCA All-American accolades, a Daktronics/CCA East Region Pitcher of the Year honor, three ECC Pitcher of the Year praises, four ECC and one ECAC Rookie of the Year accolades, and two ECC Player of the Year achievements. In addition, Cassidy-Lyke's student-athletes have earned numerous laurels in the classroom, including ECC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District distinctions, and All-American Scholar Athlete praise.

Cassidy-Lyke also enters her 20th year as the Director of Athletics at Molloy University. Since her appointment, she has overseen unprecedented athletic and academic success in addition to the adoption of nine programs (men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's bowling, men's and women's rugby, field hockey, and sprint football). Under her guidance, Molloy programs have appeared in 31 NCAA Tournaments, won 25 conference championships, and four NCAA Regionals while also being recognized for its academic performances and community service initiatives.

Cassidy-Lyke, a member of the Division II Athletic Director’s Association, currently serves on the Board of Directors as the representative for the East Coast Conference. She is also the former President, Vice President and Secretary of the ECC’s Athletic Director Council.

Before returning to Rockville Centre, Cassidy-Lyke served as a coach for three different teams over a 15-year period at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville. Her greatest highlight came on the softball field as she recorded an impressive 287-85 mark with the Titans. In the process, she captured nine CHSAA titles and four New York State Championships. Plus, Cassidy-Lyke was a four-time selection as the Nassau/Suffolk CHSAA Coach of the Year, the Nassau County Female Coach of the Year in 1995, and Newsday’s Nassau County Coach of the Year in 2003.

Once she concluded her career at Holy Trinity in 2006, she was immediately placed into the school's Hall of Fame. Off the field, Cassidy-Lyke spent nine seasons as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at C.W. Post.

Cassidy-Lyke, a two-sport athlete at Molloy, was inducted into the Lions' Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. On the softball field, she averaged over .400 in back-to-back seasons and boasted one of the best batting averages in Division II as a senior. The two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honoree was also inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2002 among the likes of Drew Brees, Joe Girardi, Val Ackerman, and Peyton Manning. 

Cassidy-Lyke graduated from Molloy summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business management before continuing her education at John Jay College, where she earned a master's degree in criminal justice. Upon graduation, she joined the New York City Police Academy, eventually being promoted to captain in 2003. The Hicksville native currently remains in Hicksville with her husband, John, son, Jack, and dog, Murphy.