Meet Our Coaches
Coach Jon Mitchell
Director Team Development &
Head Coach Baseball 16U
Coach Mitchell has a lifelong association with athletics including 21 years of coaching experience at both the high school and club level with baseball and softball teams. Originally from San Jose, CA he grew up and graduated high school from Rochester Mayo HS, MN. In high school Coach Mitchell excelled at both wrestling and baseball. Some of his achievements were: 1984 Academic All-State Wrestling; 1984 All-Conference Baseball - Second Base; 1984 Regional Tournament MVP. After high school Coach Mitchell enjoyed a stint with the Rochester Royals in a semi-pro baseball league. In 1985 Coach Mitchell attended North Carolina State University (Sociology Major; Education Minor) and competed as a collegiate athlete in the Wolf Pack’s Varsity Wrestling Program.
In 1998 Coach Mitchell was the Co-Founder of the Triangle Lightning Fast Pitch Softball Program that has assisted more than a dozen players achieve their goals of NCAA Athletic Scholarships and the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. In 2000 he led the 12U team to a 7th place finish in the 2000 USSSA World Series and 14U team to a 14th place finish the following year. The in 2003 Coach Mitchell started the Wake County Wizards Baseball Organization, which has enjoyed 3 consecutive USSSA and BPA World Series appearances with a 2nd place finish in the 13U BPA World Series in 2008.
Coach Mitchell has been married for 16 years to Becky Mitchell and they have two children, Kasey who is a 21 year old senior at NC State University & Aaron a 14 year old freshman at Knightdale H.S. He is very excited to be leading the North Carolina Pride Baseball Program Down Under. “This is a remarkable opportunity for students! These athletes will be representing both North Carolina and the USA and I am honored to be a part of it. We all look forward to sharing our national pastime while our hosts share their rich heritage. These kids will gain a valuable cultural experience through home stays and attending HS with their Australian counterparts, not to mention all of the fantastic sightseeing we will be doing! It’s the ultimate field trip combined with the game we love; an experience everyone will remember long after the game scores are forgotten."
Coach Keith Russell
Head Baseball Coach 18U
Coach Russell was born and raised in southwestern Ohio just north of Cincinnati. An excellent high school athlete, he participated in interscholastic and American Legion baseball. He also excelled at wrestling in high school and freestyle tournaments. After graduating from Miami University in 1985, he coached a high school wrestling program for two years before a career transfer. After time spent in Florida and Virginia, he settled in North Carolina with his family.
Since moving to NC in 1997, Coach Russell has been a Cub Scout leader for 5 years, and coached youth and middle school baseball for 8. He has also played in the competitive NC men’s adult baseball league for 6 years, winning 2 league titles. Since 2002, Coach Russell has been umpiring baseball at all levels from youth to high school to adult. Coach Russell also officiates high school wrestling in the winter. Additionally, Coach Russell volunteers with the Miracle League of the Triangle, a baseball league for physically and developmentally challenged children.
Coach Russell has been married to wife Dianne for 19 years. They have a son, Zack, who is a senior at Knightdale HS; and a daughter, Grayson, who is in the 8th grade at Zebulon Middle school. “I am very honored to have this chance to lead these young men on this adventure. I believe that sports and travel each present opportunities for young people to learn and grow and by combining the two, the experience should be truly unique and rewarding.”
Head Coach Softball TBA
