Les Lancaster is in his third season as skipper of the Explorers. Lancaster, 48, led Sioux City to the Second Half North Division Championship in 2008 and their first playoff berth since 2002. He spent 2005-2007 in the Golden League where he made the playoffs two out of three seasons and won a league championship in 2006 with the Reno Silver Sox. Lancaster managed the Adirondack Lumberjacks in 1999-2000. He led the Lumberjacks to a championship in 2000 and was named Baseball America’s Independent League Manager of the Year that season. In 2001-2002, Les was skipper of the Lincoln Saltdogs.

Lancaster played one year at Dallas Baptist University before transferring to the University of Arkansas where he spent three seasons with the Razorbacks. The Chicago Cubs signed Lancaster in 1985 and it took him less than three seasons to land on the big league roster. Les was both a starting pitcher and reliever for the Cubs from 1987 to 1991. He enjoyed his best season in 1989 where he posted a 4-2 record with a 1.36 ERA and eight saves in 42 relief appearances. He helped Chicago win the National League East Division championship and was named a post-season all-star.

After his four-year stint with the Cubs, Lancaster moved onto Detroit in 1992 and then St. Louis in 1993. As a major leaguer, he accumulated a record of 41-28 with a 4.05 ERA and 22 saves. Following his big league career, Lancaster pitched professionally in Italy, Mexico and Taiwan