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On Deck Academy (704) 889-2287

Coaches & Instructors

Jason Hill
Title: Co-Owner
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education:
West Charlotte High School
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte BA in English MA in English Education

Experience:
• Played at West Charlotte High School
• An All-Conference and All-State selection
• Powerade/NC State Games participant (Region 6-1993)
• Played American Legion baseball for Post 287
• A four-year starter at UNC Charlotte
• In 1996, he was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team
• He was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team in 1996 and 1997
• In 1998, he helped the 49ers to an NCAA Regional batting .357 with 14 homeruns and 73 RBI, during which he received a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week Award
• Jason was named 49ers Team MVP in 1999
• Played for the Wilson Tobs in the Coastal Plains League during the summer of 1997
• Served as an Assistant Coach at UNC Charlotte for four years (1999-2003)
• Head Coach of the On Deck O’s 18U team which finished 3rd at the Perfect Game/ Baseball America World Wood Bat Championships (in 2003)
• English Teacher at Northwest Cabarrus High School, Cabarrus County First Class Teacher Finalist (2003)
• Board Member and President of Parent Council for The Choir School at St. Peter’s (2017/2018)

Kevin Hill
Title: Co-Owner
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education:
West Charlotte High School
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Experience:
• Played at West Charlotte High
• Was an All-Conference and All-State selection
• Powerade/NC State Games participant (Region 6-1995)
• Played American Legion baseball for Post 287
• Played at UNC Charlotte
• In 1998, he helped the Charlotte 49ers to an NCAA Regional (Texas A&M)
• Assistant Coach at Pfeiffer University (2000)
• Founder and Head Coach of the Carolina O’s (2000), which eventually became the On Deck O’s
• Hitting Consultant for the University of Central Florida Softball Program (2005-2006)
• Associate Scout with Cincinnati Reds (2003-2006)

Lindo Javelona
Title: Director of Teams
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education:
West Charlotte High School
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte BS in Biology

Experience:
• Played at West Charlotte High
• All-Conference selection
• Assistant Coach of the West Charlotte High Fall Team (1998)
• Assistant Coach of the Carolina O’s (2000)
• Assistant Coach of the On Deck O’s (2001-02)
• Head Coach with the On Deck O’s 2002-present)
• Head Coach of the 16U On Deck O’s, which finished 8th at the Perfect Game/ Baseball America World Wood Bat Underclassmen Championships (2005)
• Head Coach Baseball Coach at Covenant Day Middle School (2012-2014)
• Head JV Coach Marvin Ridge High School (2015)
• NFHS Coaching Certification (2015)
• General Manager On Deck Academy (2011-2018)
• Director of Teams (10U-14U) On Deck Academy (2019-present)  


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





Slayton Fletcher (Pitching & Catching)
Title: Instructor/ Coach
Hometown:  Gastonia, NC
Education:  Ashbrook High School
Pfeiffer University (2 years)
Associates in Business Management


Experience:
-Played Baseball at Ashbrook High School
-Member of the 2016 OTK Saints
-1x All Conference Pitcher
-2017 Top 3 Conference Strikeouts Leader 
-American Legion All Legion Pitcher (2018)
-Played Division III Baseball
-2019 ECAC Champion
-Following my college career I coached with On Deck Academy (Fall 2020)



Brad Elwood (Hitting - Defense)
Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown: Indian Trail, NC
Education:
Piedmont High School
Member of 2011 On Deck O's
UNC Charlotte
Finance | American Studies

Experience:
• Career .308 avg. in college. 163 games played. 185 hits.
• 2015 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Winner. NCCSIA All-State Second Team. Posted .328 average.
• Preseason All-Conference USA selection 2014
• 2013: Named to All-Atlantic 10 Tournament, 1-10 Player of the Week, Academic All-Conference
• 2x A-10 Rookie of the Week
• In High School named a Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American


Jay Fish (Hitting - Outfield)
Title: Instructor/Coach
Hometown: Springfield, MA
Education:
University of North Carolina @ Charlotte – BA English
University of North Carolina @ Charlotte – BA Criminal Justice

Experience:
• Played four years in high school at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School (MA) and Wilbraham Monson Academy (MA) respectively
• Four-year career high school BA .400+
• Team Leader/Top 3 in batting average, stolen bases, and runs scored each season 
• 10+ years coaching ages 7-13 in the Charlotte, NC area
• 2014 – 2017: Assistant Coach @ Cuthbertson High School – Waxhaw, NC
• 2017: Conference Championship
• 2015, 2016, 2017: State Playoffs
• 2017 – 2018: Assistant Coach @ South Mecklenburg High School – Charlotte, NC
• 2018: Conference Championship & State Playoffs
• 2019 – Present: Assistant Coach @ Marvin Ridge High School – Waxhaw, NC


Cameron Hill
Title: Coach
Hometown: Wingate, NC
Education:
Forrest Hills High School
Wingate University
BS in Health & Physical Education

Experience:
•Played at Forrest Hills High
• Head JV/Varsity Assistant Coach - Porter Ridge HS (2016-2019)
• Head JV/Varsity Assistant Coach - Marvin Ridge HS (2020-present)



Aaron Hammers
Title: Coach
Hometown: Fort Mill, SC
Education: 
East Mecklenburg HS

Undergraduate:
Wingate University: Kinesiology/Education

Masters:
University California at Pennsylvania:  Sports Management and Administration


Experience: 
- Played in High School at East Mecklenburg
- Played Belmont Abbey College
- High School Baseball Assistant Coach: (Independence, Parkwood, Marvin Ridge with Mark Mennitt)
- Head Baseball Coach CATA 2017 – Current
- Head Softball Coach CATA 2020 - Current



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