Coaches

Mike Cerino

Head Coach

Mike Cerino was named Head Coach on September 29, 2011.  Cerino, 44, currently serves as Director of Athletics at Limestone College. Mike Cerino was named Limestone College’s Director of Athletics in the fall of 2008 and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics in 2011. He is the fifth Director in the history of Saints Athletics. Previously, he had served as Senior Associate Athletics Director from the summer of 2006 to 2008.  He will continue to serve in his current role at Limestone.

In addition to overseeing the athletics department, Cerino had a 15-year tenure as the head coach of the Saints' successful men's lacrosse program. He is the school's all-time wins leader with a record of 128-66 (.660) and was the first coach in the program’s history.  Cerino founded the men’s lacrosse program in 1989 and built it into a national champion, winning a Division II title in 2000. In his college coaching career, he guided two elite programs, Limestone College and Washington and Lee University, to NCAA Tournament appearances and compiled an overall collegiate record of 181-90 (.668) over 20 seasons. During his coaching career he won a total of eight conference championships between the two schools and took W&L to the NCAA Division III Semifinal in 2002.  He was named the Deep South Coach of the year in 1994 and 1998 and was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the year in 2002 and 2004. Following the 2000 season, Cerino was named Street and Smith’s College Lacrosse USA Division II Coach of the Year. He is also a three-time recipient of the Jim "Ace" Adams National Sportsmanship Award.

During his coaching career, he has served on the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) Board of Directors and has served on the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Committee, operating as Committee Chair in 2000. He has been a member of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division III All-America Committee, the USILA National Ranking Committee and was also selected to be a presenter at the 2000 and2004 US Lacrosse Clinic and at the 2006 IMLCA Clinic. During his 20 year coaching career, Cerino also guided the Charlotte Latin School boy’s lacrosse team to an appearance in the NCISAA 2001 State Playoffs. He has mentored 51 USILA All-Americans and was a coach for the South team in the 1996 Division I North/South Classic All-Star Game.

A native of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Cerino now resides in Greer, S.C., with his wife Christine and his three children, Ryan, Caitlyn and Allison.

email   mcerino@charlottehounds.com

J.B. Clarke

Assistant Coach

J.B. Clarke, the current head coach at Limestone College, joins the Hounds staff with a wealth of coaching experience that expands over 22 years. Before coming to Limestone in 2010, Clarke spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Washington College (1998-2011), in which he compiled a record of 138-63 (.687) and reached 100 wins quicker than any other coach in program history.

Prior to coaching the Shoremen, Clarke was the assistant coach at Loyola College (1997-1998) and the head man at Greensboro College (1996-97). He also spent four seasons (1992-96) as the offensive coordinator at Duke and helped the Blue Devils to the 1995 ACC Championship and two appearances in the NCAA tournament. Clarke also spent time as an assistant at Roanoke College (1991-92) and The Ohio State University (1990-91). During his coaching career he has helped his teams in all three divisions reach the NCAA National Tournament an impressive 12 times.

Chris Phenicie

Assistant Coach

Chris Phenicie returns to the coaching ranks after an illustrious career as the head assistant at Limestone College from 1991-2008. As an assistant for the Saints, Phenicie oversaw the midfield units and face-off lines. He was also responsible for the offense and extra-man unit. He, along with Coach Cerino, oversaw Limestone's rise in national prominence and was a key force in the program's National Championships in 2000 and 2002.

Brad Touma

Assistant Coach

Brad Touma, the current Head Coach for the Charlotte Country Day School, provides the Hounds with 24 years of coaching experience within the Charlotte community. A nine-time N.C. State Champion, Touma has coached 17 HS All-Americans, 141 All-State selections, six Academic All-Americans and has helped 20 players realize their dream of playing lacrosse at the NCAA level. He is also the president and co-founder of the Dixie Top 150 and the Charlotte Country Day Lacrosse camps.

Drew Delaney

Advance Scout

Scott Benson

Donald D'Alessandro, MD

Team Doctor

Since joining Miller Orthopaedic Clinic in 1989 (now OrthoCarolina), Dr. D'Alessandro has been a leading sports medicine physician in the orthopedic community specializing in arthroscopic and reconstructive knee surgery, sports medicine and shoulder and elbow surgery. He has been an innovator in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, bioresorbable suture anchors and advancing the "newest" techniques in ACL reconstruction.

From 1994 to 2001, Dr. D'Alessandro served as the first team physician for the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Today, he serves as team physician for Davidson College, MLL Charlotte Hounds and Charlotte Country Day School, as well as Assistant Team Physician for Hendrick Motorsports. He has been recognized for meritorious community service by the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association in 1997, when he received the Sports Medicine Person of the Year Award. In 2000 he earned the Walt Disney Award, which recognized his 10-plus years of service for his medical staff volunteer work with Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

In 1991, Dr. D'Alessandro was named Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center, where he is actively involved in training future orthopedic surgeons. Recognized as a leader in his field, he has published numerous papers and lectures nationally on topics concerning knee and shoulder surgery. He also serves as the Medical Advisor for OrthoCarolina Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, and participates in planning and leading educational courses for physical therapists and athletic trainers in the region.

He and his wife, Sally, live in Charlotte where they've raised their sons, Bill, Tommy and Dave, and are active in community service and recreational athletics.

EDUCATION

• Princeton University -- Bachelor of Science
• Georgetown University -- Doctor of Medicine
• Harvard University, Deaconess Hospital Surgical Service -- Internship
• Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Orthopedic Surgery -- Residency
• Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Sports Medicine -- Fellowship

Rebecca Rich, BA/ATC/LAT

Athletic Trainer

Crissi Harrison, ATC/L

Athletic Trainer

Crissi works for OrthoCarolina in the Industrial Services/Physical Therapy Department, performing Functional Capacity Evaluations and work conditioning as well as covering athletic teams and events around the Charlotte area. She graduated with a BS degree from Catawba College in 2005 after completing studies in Athletic Training and Therapeutic Recreation. She then completed a Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007. She has been a certified and licensed Athletic Trainer for 7 years.