Kevin Tyska, head coach of the Wheeling Jesuit University Cardinal Lacrosse team, died unexpectedly Monday, January 21, 2008 at home.

He was 43.

Arriving in Wheeling in 2005, Tyska had high hopes as his team looked forward this Spring to his fourth campaign as head coach. His goal was to balance out the team roster with greater depth, and he successfully did so by recruiting 19 freshmen to Campus in 2006, while solidifying the pool of upperclass talent. The recruits on his team added greater geographic diversity to Wheeling Jesuit, as many of his players were from lacrosse-rich states like Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Canada, and Colorado. Teams which they played were from North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York, among other states.

At one point in the 2006 campaign, the Cardinals were ranked tenth in the nation among NCAA-Division II programs. A native of Connecticut, Tyska brought 18 years of high school and college coaching experience to the Cardinal program. His previously coached at Boston College, Rutgers University, Quinnipiac College, Lasell College and St. Anselm College.

Involved in lacrosse since he was nine years old, he began playing in Lake Braddick, Virginia. He was an all-state player in Connecticut. He attended the University of New Haven as a freshman, and then transferred to the University of Delaware. After being red-shirted in 1985, he was a two-year starter on defense. His team was 12th in the nation in 1986 and captured the East Coast Conference Championship.

He was born March 4, 1964 in Montclair, N.J. the son of Louis A. and Julie Parsons Tyska of Hollis, N.H.; and was member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Wheeling.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his loving wife of nine years, Cyd Bucal Tyska; three children, Jake, Ellie and Samantha, all at home; two brothers, Craig Tyska and his wife, Donna, and their children, Kayla and Kendra, all of Guilford, Conn. and Chris Tyska and his daughter, Jessica of Hollis, N.H.; a sister, Asha McLaughlin and her husband, Mark, and their sons, Oliver and Lucian, all of California; and aunt, Ginger McHale of Fort Myers, Fla.; and an uncle, Tim Parsons and his wife, Sue of Norway, Maine and their daughter, Frances.

A furneral liturgy was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at St. Michael Catholic Church, with the Rev. Anthony Cincinnati and the Rev. Paul Stark, S.J. as con celebrants.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Wheeling Jesuit University, c/o Kevin Tyska Memorial Fund, Development Office, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV. 26003, payable to Wheeling Jesuit University, Memo: In honor of Kevin Tyska.

Personal condolences may be offered to the family at www.kepnerfuneral.com.