Jon Coyles serves as Vice President of Drug, Health and Safety Programs at the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. In his role, Coyles is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Major League Baseball’s various drug prevention and treatment programs, including the management of the programs’ associated scientific experts, medical consultants, specimen collection officers, and testing laboratories. Coyles also plays a key role in collective bargaining negotiations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, including the annual review and update of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and league-wide player health and safety initiatives. Coyles regularly provides guidance to Major League Club officials – including front office staff, Club counsel, team physicians, certified athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, sport psychologists and register dietitians – on a variety of legal, anti-doping, player development, wellness, and health-related matters. Coyles also works closely with MLB’s Department of Investigations and other Labor Relations attorneys on investigations into non-analytical drug program violations, advises MLB and Club human resources departments on employment related matters, and assists on a variety of Umpire health and safety matters, including bargaining with the World Umpires Association.
During Coyles’ time at MLB, the league’s drug testing program has developed into one of the most robust and respected anti-doping programs in the world. Some of MLB’s most significant efforts on the anti-doping front during Coyles’ tenure include a threefold increase in testing, the implementation of blood testing for hGH, the adoption of dried blood spot testing, the establishment of a longitudinal profile program, an increased disciplinary structure, the development of a multi-faceted Therapeutic Use Exemption (“TUE”) program, improved dietary supplement and clubhouse nutrition policies, and the creation of multiple amateur testing and education programs in the U.S. and Latin America.
Coyles is highly involved in MLB’s league-wide concussion protocols, health and safety policies, smokeless tobacco programs, game day medical coverage, nutritional standards, player education programs, and mental health initiatives. During the 2020-2022 seasons, Coyles oversaw MLB’s Covid-19 health monitoring and testing plan and served as MLB’s representative on the Joint Covid-19 Health and Safety Committee. Coyles has been appointed as the Office of the Commissioner’s legal representative to the Medical Advisory Committee, Strength and Conditioning Advisory Committee, Health Policy Advisory Committees, and the parties’ Joint Treatment Boards established pursuant to the Joint Drug Program and the Basic Agreement. Coyles also serves as MLB’s primary liaison to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, NSF, and the Taylor Hooton Foundation, and works closely with anti-doping specialists at the other U.S. professional sports leagues and sport organizations around the world.
In addition to his work at MLB and for the PCC’s Board of Governors, Coyles currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists and the Board of Managers of InnoVero LLC. He has published papers on various topics including dietary supplement regulation and concussion prevention, is a frequent lecturer on effective anti-doping policies and deterrent efforts, and serves as an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law.
Coyles was initially hired by the Office of the Commissioner as Director of Major League and Minor League Drug Programs in 2007. Before joining MLB, Coyles attended the University at Buffalo School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2005. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Rochester, where he graduated with degrees in Political Science and Psychology and competed as a member of the university’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams. Coyles and his wife, Jillian, live in upstate New York with their two daughters.