Taves was promoted to assistant baseball coach following his graduation from Longwood in May of 2026. He spent the previous four seasons with the program as the student director of on-field operations and Analytics. 

 

"Adding/keeping Lucas on staff is a big win for our program," Noe said. "He previously served as a student manager, and after graduating this past year, it will be a seamless transition to an assistant coaching role. He will be a Swiss army knife for us and impact the program in all areas."   

 

During his time with the Lancers, Taves implemented TrackMan data analytics for the program and worked extensively in player development, practice preparation, and game operations. He had full oversight of the catching group, prepared and executed practice plans, and assisted with offensive, infield, and outfield development. Taves served as a bullpen catcher from 2022-24 before continuing to assist with bullpens in 2025 and 2026. 

 

Taves also gained collegiate coaching experience with the Martha's Vineyard Sharks in 2024, serving as an assistant coach and director of analytics and synergy. He worked as a first base coach, helped implement baserunning and offensive systems, oversaw infield defense, and contributed to catcher and player development. 

 

A native of New York, Taves also served as head coach of the Trumansburg Babe Ruth League in 2023 and 2024. He led the program to an 18-1 record and a regional championship in 2024. 

 

Eric Hill joins the Longwood staff as director of player development after spending the 2026 season as the infield and first base coach at Randolph-Macon College. A Longwood graduate and member of the 1991 Lancers team that advanced to the Final Four of the Division II World Series, Hill brings extensive experience in player development, recruiting, and collegiate baseball operations. 

 

"Eric is one of the best people around, and not only does he have a ton of experience, but more importantly, he is an alumnus of the program and has both his son and daughter here with him. It is a special hire, and Eric will have an instant impact," Noe said.   

 

Before Randolph-Macon, Hill served as director of player development for the University of Richmond program for five seasons and spent three seasons as an operations intern with Richmond. He will primarily work with the Longwood infield group while assisting with recruiting efforts. 

 

Hill's connection to Longwood baseball dates back more than three decades. He was a member of the 1991 Lancers team that reached the Division II World Series Final Four and  was later inducted into the Longwood Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. 

 

Hill is a 12-year member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and a member of the Virginia Baseball Coaches Association. He also holds USA Baseball A, B, and C coaching certifications. 

 

Haight joins Longwood after serving as an assistant coach at Everett Community College since 2024. 

 

"We are super excited to add Andrew to our coaching staff," Noe said. "His connections and knowledge of baseball on the West Coast will be massive to our recruiting footprint on top of his expertise with the catchers. This is a slam dunk hire for us as we continue to expand our reach and sell out to player development."  

 

During his time at Everett, Haight helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back NWAC North Region Championships, including a school-record 41-9 season in 2026. He worked extensively with hitter development, offensive game planning, recruiting, player evaluations, and opponent scouting. 

 

Haight helped develop an Everett offense that hit .293 with a .411 on-base percentage in 2026. He also contributed to the development of eight First Team All-North Region selections, three second-team honorees, and three Gold Glove Award winners, while helping multiple players advance to NCAA Division I programs. 

 

Before coaching at Everett, Haight worked as a catching and hitting instructor at Elevate NW Baseball Academy. He was a Division I catcher at Seattle University from 2020-22. 

 

Haight earned a bachelor's degree in educational studies from Western Governors University and an Associate of Arts degree from Everett Community College.