Springfield Drifters Baseball Academy
Jeff Lyle was born in Eugene before moving to Arroyo Grande, Calif. as a youngster. He played three years of varsity baseball at Arroyo Grande before graduating high school in 1995 and moving on to Merced Junior College.
After a series of injuries to his wrist, elbow and rotator cuff, he moved back to Eugene in 2004 and began coaching youth baseball. He coached a couple years at Thurston High School before taking a job as a scout with the Atlanta Braves.
In 2008, he began a nine-year run as an assistant baseball coach at Lane Community College. “I found out that I couldn’t be a college coach and scout, but coaching is what I fell in love with so I stayed with that career,” Lyle said.
Lyle spent the summer of 2012 in the West Coast League as pitching coach of the Klamath Falls Gems and later worked with the Medford Rogues in the WCL and Great West League, including a GWL championship in 2017.
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Jeff Lyle was born in Eugene before moving to Arroyo Grande, Calif. as a youngster. He played three years of varsity baseball at Arroyo Grande before graduating high school in 1995 and moving on to Merced Junior College.
After a series of injuries to his wrist, elbow and rotator cuff, he moved back to Eugene in 2004 and began coaching youth baseball. He coached a couple years at Thurston High School before taking a job as a scout with the Atlanta Braves.
In 2008, he began a nine-year run as an assistant baseball coach at Lane Community College. “I found out that I couldn’t be a college coach and scout, but coaching is what I fell in love with so I stayed with that career,” Lyle said.
Lyle spent the summer of 2012 in the West Coast League as pitching coach of the Klamath Falls Gems and later worked with the Medford Rogues in the WCL and Great West League, including a GWL championship in 2017.
Dean Stiles, a Eugene native, brings more than 40 years of coaching experience to the Drifters squad, both collegiate with the University of Oregon, Florida International University, and San Jose State, and professional, serving as a critical member of the pitching development programs with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers. With the Dodgers, he was fortunate to win a World Series ring in 2020 after being instrumental in the success of their throwing program.
Stiles has also served as the head coach at Lane Community College and pitching coach at the University of St. Mary, mentoring in total more than 60 pitchers and position players who have gone on to play in the MLB. Stiles is no stranger to both the mission and success of the West Coast League as he was also involved in the development of the original Bend Elks Baseball franchise.
Stiles has contributed for several years to the Eugene-Springfield community, where he has conducted countless youth clinics and watched and coached his three adult children, Taylor, Chloe, and Cooper, who all graduated from the University of Oregon. He and his fiancé Ashley Marie now reside in Eugene and are looking forward to contributing to the success of the Drifters franchise.
Matt Hubbs, a native of Eugene, Oregon, has dedicated his life to baseball both on and off the field. A 2016 graduate of Willamette High School, he continued his athletic career with the Lane Community College baseball team before serving in the United States Air Force. His passion for the game evolved into a love of coaching, beginning with the Colts at Thurston High School in Springfield, OR. Over five seasons (2017–2023), he became a respected figure in the local baseball community, most recently serving as the JV Head Coach and a varsity assistant for Thurston’s 2023 Oregon 5A State Championship team.
In 2023, Matt earned his Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Bushnell University, with concentrations in psychology, criminal justice, and history. He furthered his education while serving as a Graduate Assistant Coach under former Beacons and Drifters Head Coach Tommy Richards, earning his Master’s in Sports Management from Bushnell in 2024. Matt joined the Springfield Drifters as an assistant coach in the summer of 2024 and returns for the 2025 season. He continues his career as an assistant coach for the Beacons, where he specializes in outfield development and serves as the camp coordinator.
Beyond the diamond, Matt enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family and girlfriend in the Eugene and Central Oregon areas. He is committed to mentorship and player development and is eager to continue shaping the future of baseball in the Eugene-Springfield community.
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326 Centennial Blvd, Springfield, OR