Eric Lindley Named Director of Baseball Operations in Newport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chuck Paiva
April 25, 2025
General Manager
401-845-6832//operations@newportgulls.com
With 2025 marking a season of notable change for the Newport Gulls organization, one of the most significant transitions comes at the top. The Gulls proudly welcome a new Director of Baseball Operations following Michael Falcone’s departure to pursue a professional soccer opportunity in Europe.
Taking over the role is a familiar face—Eric Lindley—who has already made a strong impression within the organization. Lindley first joined the Gulls in the fall of 2023 following the team's Championship season. He quickly became an integral part of operations, playing a key role in planning and executing the bi-annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during the 2024 offseason.
Thrown into the heart of the organization early, Lindley was exposed to a different side of baseball than he had previously known.
“Before Newport, I was fortunate enough to play baseball for 15 years—from T-ball to Division I at Stonehill College. Baseball had always been a constant in my life,” Lindley reflected. “After my freshman year at Stonehill, I felt it might be time to move on. As much as I wanted to step away, I knew I never truly could. Baseball was my first love—I couldn’t imagine life without it.”
Following the Hall of Fame event, Lindley shifted his focus to preparations for the 2024 summer season. He served as the Gulls' Director of Gameday Operations, overseeing a wide array of responsibilities. From coordinating pre-game ceremonies such as Honor Guards, Baseball Buddies, and First Inning Salutes, to organizing key theme nights like American Heroes Night and Military Appreciation Night, Lindley’s efforts helped shape the fan experience.
“Before Newport, I was quiet and reserved,” Lindley admitted. “Like many entering the sports world for the first time, I was nervous and inexperienced. Communication was never my strong suit, and I feared it would hold me back. But from Day 1, I had a support system that believed in me and pushed me to be the best version of myself. I owe so much of that to Mike Falcone—my mentor and the person who helped me grow. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be today.”
Lindley’s hard work and leadership culminated in another unforgettable summer in Newport, as the Gulls captured their second consecutive championship—marking the franchise’s first back-to-back titles since 2001 and 2002.
“I can confidently say it was the best summer of my life,” Lindley said. “Working with an incredible staff, creating lifelong memories—it truly felt like one big family.”
Following the 2024 season, Lindley was officially named Director of Baseball Operations. As he steps into this new leadership role, he is focused on continuing to elevate the organization and support the incoming staff as they prepare for a potential historic three-peat.
“I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to be in the position I’m in,” Lindley shared. “It’s definitely a challenge—but it’s one I embrace thanks to the support from everyone within the Gulls organization. The passion and dedication of this staff is what drives our success, and I’m grateful to contribute to that each and every day. I can’t wait for another successful season of Gulls Baseball!”
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The Newport Gulls, members of the 13-team New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded as the Rhode Island Gulls in 1998 in Cranston, R.I., before moving to Newport in 2001. In addition to recruiting, fielding, and developing a team of the nation’s top collegiate baseball athletes and attracting 50,000 fans annually to Cardines Field, the predominantly volunteer organization strives to benefit the community via summer camps, reading programs, fundraisers, scholarships, and charitable donations – totaling over $1 million since 2001. The Gulls are eight-time champions of the NECBL – the winningest franchise in league history – and were ranked as the overall No. 1 summer collegiate baseball team in the country by Perfect Game USA in 2012.
For more information about the Newport Gulls, visit facebook.com/newportgulls, follow the Gulls on Twitter @NewportGulls or visit www.newportgulls.com.
