John Steele
Title: Director of Pitching
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education:
Fort Worth Southwest High School
St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX) BS Exercise Sports Science
Texas Wesleyan University MS Physiology

Experience:
• Represented Germany in the 1985 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA
• Played at Fort Worth Southwest High School which won the 5A State Championship (1989)
• Played at Murray State College and participated in the NJCAA World Series (1992)
• Played at perennial national contender St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX
• NAIA Baseball National Championship participant (1995)
• Began his coaching career at Texas Wesleyan University
• Joined the Texas Rangers player development staff (1996-1999)
• Over two decades of experience developing pitchers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels
• Founder and Lead Instructor Dynamic Pitching Institute (1995)
• Director of Pitching On Deck Academy (2011-present)

Mark Mennitt
Title: Director of Operations -Union County
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education: 
Independence High School
Mars Hill College
BA in History/Social Studies Education

Experience: 
• Played in High School at Independence High, State Champion 1984
• Head Baseball Coach for 24 years (Independence, Parkwood, Marvin Ridge)
• Won 12 conference titles as a head coach, 11 Coach of the Year Awards
• Appeared in 4 Regional Championships & won back-to-back State Championships in 2015 & 2016 at Marvin Ridge HS



Josh Pinkham 
Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown:     Montgomery, AL
Education:             
Eastwood Christian School
Auburn University
Auburn University-Montgomery BS Communication Studies

Experience:
•Four-year starter at Eastwood Christian School
•Led Eastwood Christian School to 4 state championship games
•Played Freshman season at Auburn University (2013)
•Transferred to Auburn University Montgomery (2014-2015)
•Coached Eastwood Christian School Varsity team (2016)
•Head instructor for Capital City Strike Zone in Montgomery, AL
•Instructor at On Deck Academy since 2017

Reed Gamache 
Title: Assistant Director of Teams
Hometown: Exeter, RI
Education:
Bishop Hendricken High School
Binghamton University BA in History

Experience
• 3-Time Rhode Island State Champion at Bishop Hendricken High School
• Binghamton University baseball captain
• 2016 Male athlete of the year at Binghamton University batting .366 with 7 homeruns
• 2016 All-Tournament team and First team All-Conference
• America East Conference tournament champion in 2013, 2014, and 2016
• Played in NCAA regionals at NC State, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M
• Signed professionally with the New York Mets playing in: Kingsport (Rookie), Brooklyn (Short-Season- A), and Columbia (Full season-A)
• Began coaching career at the college level in 2018 as the assistant/ hitting coach with the Edenton Steamers in the Coastal Plain League

Christian Umphlett (Hitting & Pitching)
Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education: South Meck High School
Francis Marion University
BA in Business Management

Experience:

• 4-year letterman
• All-Conference as a senior
• Ranked 6th-best first baseman in North Carolina by Perfect Game
• 2016 Atlantic Region honorable mention
• Member of the Sabres’ 2013 state championship squad
• In 2015, also suited up for the South Charlotte Panthers and batted an impressive .432
• Batted .380 during 2015 fall ball season

Chris Detweiler

Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown: Solon, Ohio
Education:
Solon High School
University of Louisville
Kent State University BS Health and Physical Education BA in Geological Sciences with a Minor in Secondary Science Education

Experience:
• A four-year starter at Solon High School
• Signed with and played SS and CF for the University of Louisville (1997-1998)
• Transferred and played for three years at Kent State University (1998-2001)
• Team Captain for KSU (2001) • Led Kent State to a Mid-American Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance (2001)
• Served as the student assistant coach at Kent State University (2002)
• Taught at Hopewell High School and Lake Norman Charter High School
• He served as the head baseball coach at Lake Norman Charter from 2010-2013
• Chris started the varsity program as Lake Norman Charter opened
• Currently teaches AP Physics, Honors Physics, Astronomy, and Earth Science at Stuart Cramer High School in Gaston County
• On Deck Coach and Instructor since 2010




Ben Krise
Title: Coach
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Education:
Seneca Valley High School
University of Richmond BA Criminal Justice: Minors in Spanish and Sociology
UNC Charlotte MS Criminology

Experience:
• A four-year starter at Seneca Valley High School: SS, P, 1B
• First Division 1 scholarship athlete from SVHS
• Received full scholarship and played four years at University of Richmond (1990-1994)
• Played in Upstate New York wooden bat league for Little Falls Diamonds 1991
• Played in Shenandoah Valley Collegiate baseball league for Front Royal Virginia 1992
• Signed and pitched in 12 games for Zanesville Ohio independent league 1994





Mike Ladka
Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown: Monroe, NY
Education:
Monroe-Woodbury High School
Elmira College
BA in History/Social Studies Education

Experience:
• Sullivan County Community College in Coch Sheldrake, NY
• Elmira College
• Team Captain of Elmira College Baseball Team (2016)
• Holds single game RBI record at Elmira College
• Holds single season appearance record Elmira College
• 2x Hudson Valley Collegiate Baseball League All-Star
• Pitching Coach at Marvin Ridge High School



Mike Hennessey (Pitching)
Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Education:
Maryland Institute, College of Art
Bachelors of Fine Arts

Experience:
-Head Coach and Program Head at Charlotte Country Day School
-Has taken Charlotte Country Day in each full season as Head Coach
-Inducted into the Canterbury School Sports Hall Of Fame
-Active board member with Baseball For Life non profit