Spring Elite Training

Shayne Jackson

Coach

Mac Pons

Defensive Instructor/ Coach

Coach Pons grew up in Bel Air, Maryland where he lettered four-years for Boy’s Latin. He helped lead the Lakers to the 2013 MIAA “A” Championship game and finished his senior season with 43 ground balls. At Maryland, he helped lead the Terps to one national title, three title game appearances, and four semifinal appearances. His senior class had an overall record of 61-14 (.813). Appeared in 64 games with 21 GBs and 18 CT.

Alex Haskins

Events and Training Director

Coach Alex Grew up in upstate New York in the Saratoga Springs area where he was a 3 sport athlete at Ballston Spa High School in Lacrosse, Football, and Wrestling. As a Lacrosse player, he was a 3-year starter in the Goal. In his 3 years Alex surpassed 600 saves and was twice named All section and as a senior captain he was voted to play for the NY state Section 2 all-star Game, as well as being voted as team MVP. Coach Alex first attended 8-time National champion and 23-time region 3 champion Herkimer county community college located in upstate New York. He helped guide Herkimer to 2 Region Championship games and 2 final four appearances. As a starter his Sophomore year he was voted Conference Goalie of the Year and named to the all-tournament team. After Herkimer, Coach Alex attended NCAA DIII Greensboro College located in Downtown Greensboro North Carolina. Coach Alex helped lead GC to 20 wins over 2 years. After Graduating with his Teaching degree in Physical Education from GC, Alex was hired as the first assistant in charge of running the Defense and Recruiting coordinator at his Alma Mater. Coach Alex Was hired in the Fall of 2014 as a Full-time staff member of LB3 Lacrosse as the Director of Peachtree City and the residential Goalie Coach. Coach Alex was also hired as the Head Community Coach at Starr’s Mill High School. In 3 seasons at Starr’s Mill, Coach Alex has guided them to 3 straight GHSA Tournament appearances.

Rick Lewis

Thunder Elite and Thunder National Program

Coach Lewis has been coaching lacrosse for over 25 years at all levels. In 2017, he was named U.S. Lacrosse High School Assistant Coach of the Year for the State of Georgia. He attended Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT and graduated in 1982 as an All-State Defenseman. In 1983 he attended West Point Prep and was a member of the lacrosse team. Coach Lewis graduated Rutgers University 1987 and received a Master’s in Education at the University of Bridgeport. While at Rutgers from 1984-1987, he started as close defenseman all four years. He led his team to two NCAA tournament appearances. He earned honorable mention All-American honors for two years and participated in North/South Senior All-Star Game in 1987. Rick is currently an Assistant Coach for Defense at Lambert High School.  In recent years, Rick has led the Lambert Varsity team to four state championship games and two championship titles (2016 & 2018). Prior to joining the Lambert staff in 2014, Rick had coached at St. Pius X Catholic High School 2007-2012 and also spent five years coaching at South Forsyth High School. Rick is actively involved in coaching youth and high school Lacrosse at all levels, most recently with the Atlanta Rage program (Lambert). Rick and his wife Theresa reside in South Forsyth with their three children: Ricky, an assistance coach at Army West Point, Erin, a UGA grad and Kyle, a freshman lacrosse player at Lynchburg College.

Bryan Wallace

Senior Director

Coach Wallace grew up in Western Massachusetts where he was a 3-sport athlete at Minnechaug Regional HS in Soccer, Basketball, and Lacrosse. As a Lacrosse player, he was a 3-year starting Attackman, he helped guide his team to 3 Western Mass State Finals appearances was named 3x All-League, 3x All-Region, 3x All-State, 2x time team captain is the number 4 All-time leading scorer with 291 career points. Coach Wallace attended D-III the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he was a 4-year starter and scored 98 career points being named 2nd Team All-Conference in his senior year. Coach Wallace entered into coaching upon graduation at DIII Massachusetts Maritime Academy where he was the Offensive Assistant Coach. Coach Bwall continued his education and coaching career at DIII Springfield College as Graduate Assistant helping guide the Pride SC back-to-back NEWMAC titles and placed 14 players on the All-Conference team while earning his Master’s Degree in Higher Education. Coach Wallace moved to South Florida and was named Associate Head Coach at Gulliver Prep in Miami, FL. While at Gulliver, he posted 4 FHSAA Final Four Appearances, 4 District Titles, coaching 8 US Lacrosse All-Americans, 66 All-State players, 72 All-County players. Wallace moved to Marietta GA and was named HC at Lassiter HS. In one season at Lassiter HS, he earned the Region Coach of the Year, won the Region 2 Championship, GHSA State Quarter Finalist, 4 players named All-State, 6 players named All-County. Coach Wallace was named Director of Lacrosse at Centennial HS in Roswell GA in 2012. As Head Community Coach for the Knights he lead Centennial to 141-33 (.833%) record in 8 seasons. Reaching 6 straight GHSA State playoff appearances, 2019, 2018, 2017 GHSA Semi-Finalist, 2016, 2015, 2014 GHSA Quarter Finalist, Winning the 2013 State Championship. 3x Region Championships, 3x Region Coach of the Year. Under the guidance of Coach Wallace, 24 players named US Lacrosse All-Americans, 57 players named All-State, 64 players named All-Conference, 2 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Players of the Year. 2 Under Armour All-Americans (Senior Game), 1 Under Armour All-American MVP, 1 Warrior/US Lacrosse South Player of the Year, 1 Lax Records Player of the Year, 116 Scholar Athlete Award winners, 15 Senior Student Athlete Award winners, Pro Alumni; Nate Solomon.   In 2019 Coach Wallace was announced as the Assistant Varsity Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Roswell High School. He joins the Hornets from Crosstown rival Centennial.  Coach Bwall has been coaching club with Thunder in the metro Atlanta area  for 10 years and is currently the Senior Director, as well as an Elite and National  team coach. He resides in Roswell, with his wife Tara their daughter Greer and dog Luna.  

Steve O’Hara

Coach

Coach O’Hara is Associate Head Coach at Northview High School where he also teaches and coaches football for the Titans. O’Hara came to Northview for the 2017 season from Bellport High School on Long Island where he served as the defensive coordinator. Previously as the Associate Head Coach, O’Hara has led a stout defense over the course of his three seasons at Northview that has included three trips to the state playoffs. Coach O’Hara is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University where he was a 2-time captain and a 4-time All Conference Defender for the Bears. While at Lenoir-Rhyne he helped lead the Bears to a Conference Championship in 2014 and graduate with 112 career ground balls, which ranks 3rd in Bears history. Hailing from Bellport, NY, Coach O’Hara was a 2-sport star for the Clippers on the football and lacrosse field. He garnered all-conference recognition in both sports his senior year in 2010.  He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne with a degree in Physical Education.

Zach Zanone

Defensive Instructor/Coach

Coach Zanone is from Setauket, New York and has been playing lacrosse and football since elementary school. Zach was a team captain in both sports at Ward Melville HS in Long Island, NY, consistently ranked top 10 nationally for lacrosse.  He then went on to play lacrosse at State University of New York at Cortland as a defenseman.  After college Zach returned to Ward Melville, where he was the JV Lacrosse Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach.  He currently is the Varsity Head Lacrosse Coach at Alpharetta high school.  

Brian Michalec

Defensive Instructor/ Coach

Playing Experience: 8+ years

Coach Brian Michalec was a standout defenseman at Comsewogue high school. He went on to play NCAA Division II at Dowling College where he was a starter on the NCAA National Championship team in 2012.

Coaching Experience: 3 years

Comsewogue Varsity Boys Lacrosse Assistant Coach/ Defensive Coordinator- (2017-2018)

Suffolk County Assistant Coach of the Year- 2018

Miguel Ortiz

Thunder Select Director