Hank Banner will enter the 2012 season coming off one of the better seasons in recent history. The 16th year head coach led the Cavaliers to the 2011 Mid-South Eastern Division crown, a year ago in the school's inaugural Mid-South campaign. Banner has posted more wins than any other coach in Cavalier history with 318. His 300th win came two seasons ago when UVa-Wise defeated Tennessee Wesleyan; the victory also gave UVa-Wise its 500th win in the last 25 years.

Throughout his tenure, Banner's clubs have been known for consistency. The Cavs have posted at least 20 wins in six of the last seven seasons. Over that period, UVa-Wise has posted two 30 win seasons, a divisional championship, and consecutive third place finishes in the NAIA Region XII Tournament. 

Banner is a 1992 graduate of UVa-Wise.  While a student, the coach was a four-year member of the Cavaliers' baseball team and started at second base on the 1989 and 1990 conference championship teams.
His wife, Bridgette, also graduated from UVa-Wise.  The couple and their daughter, Brooke, live in nearby Castlewood, Virginia.

Recruiting coordinator and hitting coach Erik Lemley is in his fourth season at his alma mater.  The Chantilly, Virginia native was a four year letterman as a catcher for the Cavaliers from 2003-2006 where he aided the club to a 28-19 mark as a senior.  In his current capacity, Lemley oversees the team's recruiting efforts while also serving as the team's hitting coach.  Since joining the staff, Lemley's hitters have individually posted four seasons in which they hit .400 or better.  As a team, the Cavaliers have posted an average over .300 in his first three seasons of work.

Prior to joining the UVa-Wise staff, the former backstop served as an assistant and head coach at Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, Virginia.  As an assistant in 2007, Notre Dame Academy posted a 32-4 record en route to claiming the VISBA State Title.  The following season, Lemley assumed the position of head coach and led the school a 15-13 mark.

Lemley obtained a bachelor's degree in history education from UVa-Wise in 2006.  The coach and his wife Amanda reside in nearby Norton, Virginia.  You can reach the coach at (276) 376-3426 or at ell2c@uvawise.edu

Doug Bates will enter his 11th season as the pitching coach at UVa-Wise this spring.  The former standout hurler at J.J. Kelly High School brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the coaching staff.  A 13th round selection in the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft, Bates spent time in the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals organizations.

A year ago, Bates' pitchers enjoyed one of the better seasons in recent history.  As a unit, Cavalier pitchers combined to post a 4.55 earned run average while also throwing five shutouts in Mid-South action.  The five shutouts were a part of a stretch that saw the Cavs allow four or fewer in runs in 14 league games.   Even more impressive, UVa-Wise allowed just eight runs in three Mid-South Tournament match ups. 

The veteran pitching coach and his wife, Tammy resides in Wise, Virginia.  The couple has two grown children, Brandon and Brianna along with one grandchild, Hannah.