The Lancaster Barnstormers' lengthy search for a new manager has led them to a well-known name: Von Hayes.

The former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder was named the fourth manager in franchise history today.

"I can't imagine a better place than Lancaster to manage in minor league baseball," said Hayes, who agreed to a one-year contract and will be formally introduced at a meet-and-greet at Clipper Magazine Stadium on Monday, Nov. 26.

Hayes made a late push to grab the job, which was pursued by several top-notch candidates — including Lancaster native and former Barnstormers manager Tom Herr, Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter, Wally Backman and Butch Hobson.

Hayes wasn't on the Barnstormers' initial list of seven candidates to be interviewed. He contacted the Atlantic League's executive director, Joe Klein, earlier this month and expressed interest in being part of the league. Klein forwarded Hayes' name to the Barnstormers.

It turned out to be the right fit.

Hayes impressed team president Jon Danos and head of baseball operations Keith Lupton during an interview on Nov. 7.

"We got outstanding reports from other places about Von," Lupton said. "They said, 'We'll take him back in a minute.' We were impressed with that."

The Barnstormers have been without a permanent manager since Frank Klebe was fired on July 22. Pitching coach Rick Wise filled in on an interim basis for the final 53 games of last season.

Wise has agreed to return as pitching coach. The Barnstormers have yet to name a hitting/bench coach. No timetable has been set for that announcement.

Hayes, 49, brings an excellent resume.

He spent four years managing in affiliated ball with the Oakland Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks. He posted a .573 winning percentage, won two championships and was named manager of the year in the Single-A California League and Double-A Texas League.

The Barnstormers' opening was appealing to Hayes because the Atlantic League represented a chance to help construct a roster of veteran players and to manage with winning as the main goal.

"Taking a step forward with the clientele I'll be working with will be nice," Hayes said. "This league is made up of some older players, and I'm really looking forward to it."

The Barnstormers' front office believed Hayes had the right combination of experience, past success and name recognition among fans.

Hayes, who played nine seasons with the Phillies, saw his career cut short by injuries in 1992. He was out of professional baseball until he accepted a coaching job in the Diamondbacks' system in 2002.

Following five seasons on the bench, four as a manager, Hayes took this past season off.

The A's asked him to return to the Double-A Midland Rockhounds for the '07 season, but he turned down the offer because he wanted to spend more time with his family in St. Petersburg, Fla., and didn't feel he was progressing through Oakland's ranks.

Hayes was anxious to return to the dugout in 2008. When he didn't receive any offers from big-league organizations, he looked into independent ball and the Barnstormers.

"I missed the everyday activity of being involved," Hayes said. "Managing and coaching are so much different than being a player. You have 25 different personalities. You feel the pain of 25 guys when they're struggling, and you feel the joy when they're successful."

The Barnstormers were overwhelmed by the interest in the job and found it difficult to pick one candidate from the crowded list of options.

Hayes' hire means Herr will not be returning to his hometown team, which he managed in 2005 and 2006.

Herr won 52 percent of his games and captured the championship in his second season before leaving Lancaster to spend one summer with the Washington Nationals' Single-A affiliate in Hagerstown, Md.

When the Barnstormers' search began in earnest in September, Herr appeared to be the frontrunner, but as time passed it became apparent the team was ready to head in a different direction.

"If we were going to have a fresh start, this would probably be the time to do it," Lupton said. "That did weigh in very much on the final decision."

The Barnstormers are hoping to regain their winning ways after finishing 57-69 last season and never seriously contending for a playoff spot.

They've decided Hayes is the manager to turn the team's fortunes around.