Men's Basketball
Hightower, Noel
Noel Hightower
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- nsh316@lehigh.edu
- Phone:
- 610-758-5019
Noel Hightower begins his fifth season on the Lehigh coaching staff in 2020-21, and fourth as assistant coach, after serving as the director of basketball operations in 2016-17.
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In Hightower’s four seasons at Lehigh, the Mountain Hawks have gone 67-57, playing in a Patriot League Championship game, winning 20 games twice and accumulating double-figure league victories in all but one season.
In his first season at Lehigh, Hightower managed day-to-day operations of the program as Lehigh advanced to its second straight Patriot League Championship Game.
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Hightower helped coach a young team in 2017-18, which graduated over 4,000 points and 1,600 rebounds from the previous year, but still found itself near the top of the league standings. The Mountain Hawks won eight straight games to end the regular season tied for third place in the league, earning a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals. Among Lehigh’s victories was a thrilling overtime win over Bucknell in early February, handing the eventual Patriot League Champion its last defeat until the NCAA Tournament.
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Kahron Ross led the charge, finishing his career as the Lehigh and Patriot League all-time career leader for assists (660). He was named second team All-Patriot League, becoming the program’s first-ever four-time All-League honoree. Ross also became the first student-athlete in program history to finish his career 4-0 at archrival Lafayette. In addition to Ross, transfer Lance Tejada was named second team All-Patriot League in his first season donning the Brown and White. Tejada finished 10th nationally in three-point percentage (45.3) while teammate Pat Andree finished 23rd (42.9). In one stretch, Lehigh exceeded 50 percent from three-point range in six straight games. The Mountain Hawks had double-digit makes in eight in a row and 10-of-11, finishing the year 40.6 percent as a team, good for ninth nationally. Lehigh posted a 7-0 record in February to improve to 22-2 over the last three Februaries.
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In 2018-19, Lehigh knocked down 42.3 percent of its three-pointers, leading the nation and almost a full percent better than any other team in the country. It also marked a Patriot League record. The Mountain Hawks finished the year 20-11 and 12-6 in league play, their fifth straight season with 10+ Patriot League victories. Lehigh also earned a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Lehigh’s 7-4 nonleague record was its best since 2011-12. Lance Tejada received All-League recognition for a second straight season, garnering first-team laurels for the first time. The Mountain Hawks did not lose two straight games all season, showing strong resiliency and an ability to bounce back. In the Patriot League Quarterfinals vs. Army, Lehigh came back from a double-figure second-half deficit to advance, marking the Mountain Hawks’ third double-figure second-half comeback against the Black Knights of the season. In the Patriot League opener at Holy Cross, Lehigh erased an 18-point deficit to beat the Crusaders in overtime, the largest comeback in head coach Brett Reed’s head coaching tenure. Tejada tied the program record for three-pointers with 10 in the victory, tying the mark set by Joe Knight and teammate Pat Andree. Less than a month later, Lehigh went on to erase a 19-point deficit at Army West Point.
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The 2019-20 season saw the Mountain Hawks fight through some early struggles, but never quit and finished the season 6-3 over their final nine games. It included wins over three of the four eventual Patriot League semifinal teams, and a home Patriot League Tournament victory over Loyola. It was the 10th time in 11 seasons Lehigh hosted at least one PLT contest.
Hightower is a 2016 graduate of Chestnut Hill, where he was a two-sport student-athlete. He won the Athletic Director’s Award, given annually to the male and female student-athlete who best demonstrates dedication to the mission of the College and excels in his or her sport of choice.
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As a senior, Hightower averaged 6.1 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game while serving as the heart and soul of the Griffins’ defense. For his career, he ranks second in school history in rebounds (577), second in offensive rebounds (225), fifth in defensive rebounds (352), seventh in rebounds per game (5.4), second in blocks (114) and fifth in steals (128). Hightower shot 53.4 percent from the field as a senior (63-of-118). He was also a standout track and field athlete, highlighted by winning a CACC Individual Championship in 2015 in the 110-meter hurdles.
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Hightower has shown tremendous leadership, serving as a three-year captain. He was also a member of Chestnut Hill College’s Diversity Committee, vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Presidential Leadership Award winner and the 2015 conference representative at the NCAA Leadership Forum.
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Hightower has basketball experience outside of playing, which includes serving as a camp counselor at Lehigh’s summer camps from 2013 through 2015. He was Director of a 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament, where he managed the tournament’s operations, and assisted in game management at Chestnut Hill athletic events.
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In Hightower’s four seasons at Lehigh, the Mountain Hawks have gone 67-57, playing in a Patriot League Championship game, winning 20 games twice and accumulating double-figure league victories in all but one season.
In his first season at Lehigh, Hightower managed day-to-day operations of the program as Lehigh advanced to its second straight Patriot League Championship Game.
Â
Hightower helped coach a young team in 2017-18, which graduated over 4,000 points and 1,600 rebounds from the previous year, but still found itself near the top of the league standings. The Mountain Hawks won eight straight games to end the regular season tied for third place in the league, earning a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals. Among Lehigh’s victories was a thrilling overtime win over Bucknell in early February, handing the eventual Patriot League Champion its last defeat until the NCAA Tournament.
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Kahron Ross led the charge, finishing his career as the Lehigh and Patriot League all-time career leader for assists (660). He was named second team All-Patriot League, becoming the program’s first-ever four-time All-League honoree. Ross also became the first student-athlete in program history to finish his career 4-0 at archrival Lafayette. In addition to Ross, transfer Lance Tejada was named second team All-Patriot League in his first season donning the Brown and White. Tejada finished 10th nationally in three-point percentage (45.3) while teammate Pat Andree finished 23rd (42.9). In one stretch, Lehigh exceeded 50 percent from three-point range in six straight games. The Mountain Hawks had double-digit makes in eight in a row and 10-of-11, finishing the year 40.6 percent as a team, good for ninth nationally. Lehigh posted a 7-0 record in February to improve to 22-2 over the last three Februaries.
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In 2018-19, Lehigh knocked down 42.3 percent of its three-pointers, leading the nation and almost a full percent better than any other team in the country. It also marked a Patriot League record. The Mountain Hawks finished the year 20-11 and 12-6 in league play, their fifth straight season with 10+ Patriot League victories. Lehigh also earned a home game in the Patriot League Quarterfinals for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Lehigh’s 7-4 nonleague record was its best since 2011-12. Lance Tejada received All-League recognition for a second straight season, garnering first-team laurels for the first time. The Mountain Hawks did not lose two straight games all season, showing strong resiliency and an ability to bounce back. In the Patriot League Quarterfinals vs. Army, Lehigh came back from a double-figure second-half deficit to advance, marking the Mountain Hawks’ third double-figure second-half comeback against the Black Knights of the season. In the Patriot League opener at Holy Cross, Lehigh erased an 18-point deficit to beat the Crusaders in overtime, the largest comeback in head coach Brett Reed’s head coaching tenure. Tejada tied the program record for three-pointers with 10 in the victory, tying the mark set by Joe Knight and teammate Pat Andree. Less than a month later, Lehigh went on to erase a 19-point deficit at Army West Point.
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The 2019-20 season saw the Mountain Hawks fight through some early struggles, but never quit and finished the season 6-3 over their final nine games. It included wins over three of the four eventual Patriot League semifinal teams, and a home Patriot League Tournament victory over Loyola. It was the 10th time in 11 seasons Lehigh hosted at least one PLT contest.
Hightower is a 2016 graduate of Chestnut Hill, where he was a two-sport student-athlete. He won the Athletic Director’s Award, given annually to the male and female student-athlete who best demonstrates dedication to the mission of the College and excels in his or her sport of choice.
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As a senior, Hightower averaged 6.1 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game while serving as the heart and soul of the Griffins’ defense. For his career, he ranks second in school history in rebounds (577), second in offensive rebounds (225), fifth in defensive rebounds (352), seventh in rebounds per game (5.4), second in blocks (114) and fifth in steals (128). Hightower shot 53.4 percent from the field as a senior (63-of-118). He was also a standout track and field athlete, highlighted by winning a CACC Individual Championship in 2015 in the 110-meter hurdles.
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Hightower has shown tremendous leadership, serving as a three-year captain. He was also a member of Chestnut Hill College’s Diversity Committee, vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Presidential Leadership Award winner and the 2015 conference representative at the NCAA Leadership Forum.
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Hightower has basketball experience outside of playing, which includes serving as a camp counselor at Lehigh’s summer camps from 2013 through 2015. He was Director of a 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament, where he managed the tournament’s operations, and assisted in game management at Chestnut Hill athletic events.
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