Coaches

Jeff Norman has joined the Triangle Lightning organization. He brings with him almost 50 yrs. of coaching experience at various levels and numerous sports. Coach Norman comes to us after 17 yrs. as the head softball coach at St. Thomas University in Miami Fl. where he also served as head cross country coach as well as track and field. Prior to St. Thomas Univ. coach Norman was the head softball coach at Hollywood Christian Academy as well as J.V. football. While at Hollywood coach Norman guided softball to multiple state championships over a 7-year period and 6 “Small School Coach of The Year” awards. Coach Norman got his start in softball at the travel ball level coaching his daughter Lacinda. He was one of the first to bring elite-level softball to south Florida with the Davie Power. He later joined forces with Gold Coast Hurricanes and helped guide them to two national championships. In his final years in Florida, he helped to elevate West Pines Diamond Dusters to national prominence.

 Accomplishments: 

3 Florida High School Athletic Association Championships at Hollywood Christian HS 

3 Sun Conference regular-season championships NAIA 

2 Sun Conference playoff championships 

2 NAIA National Championship appearances 

1 NAIA National Championship Team of Character Award  

In total coach Norman took 21 club teams to national championships covering 3 different programs in 3 different age groups. Of those 14 finished top 10 in the country including 2 national champions. 200+ of his former players have played in college including PAC 10, BIG TEN, SEC, ACC, BIG 12, DII, DIII, and NAIA, some have been collegiate All Americans and National Champions themselves. 

Coach Norman is now a resident of N.C along with his wife Jennifer and their 3 children and 4 grandchildren. His familiarity and success with high school, collegiate, and multiple cub level age groups provide an opportunity for those who seek excellence and exceptionalism in character training and athletic competition at the highest levels. It is his intent to bring those very same successes to the Triangle Lightning organization. 

Lacinda Melanson, a Pembroke Pines, Fla., native, played second base for the University of Tampa Spartans (2001-04). During her four years in Tampa, she helped UT to a cumulative 123-69 (.641) record, one Sunshine State Conference title, and three NCAA postseason appearances. Throughout her career, she earned second-team All-American and first-team all-region honors, as well as three all-SSC accolades.

Following her playing career, she went on to the coaching world as a graduate assistant at Louisiana-Monroe. Once earning her master’s degree in Kinesiology, she was called on to be a full-time assistant for the Warhawks in 2005. Melanson become the Head Coach at UNC-Pembroke in 2008 until stepping down to welcome her firstborn daughter in 2013.

She has also gained coaching experience prior to her college coaching career on the staff of the Davie (Fla.) Power softball organization (2001-2002), the Gold Coast Hurricanes (Plantation, Fla. 2003-2004) and the Pembroke Pines Diamond Dusters (2017-2018). She and her husband, Justin Melanson, have been married for 14 years and have two daughters, Ava (8yrs) and Adalynn (4yrs). 

 “I consider it a privilege to be able to work with these young ladies. I want to help them excel to their fullest on the ball field. More importantly, I hope to help them navigate through all of the lessons this sports teaches us, in order to help them become the amazing young ladies and leaders they are called to be both on and off of the field.” - Lacinda Melanson

Coming Soon

Annette Cooke is a native of Wendell, North Carolina. She attended and played Varsity Softball at East Wake High School all four years playing 3rd base and catcher. After high school,  she played with several competitive tournament slow-pitch teams and also on a women’s rec league team.  She then continued playing on a co-Ed rec league where she was a pitcher and catcher for many years before giving it up to start coaching in 2018.

 She has worked with youth athletes in the eastern Wake County area for the past five years coaching teams for Wendell Parks & Recreation and also the Carolina Storm Surge 12U travel team before joining the Triangle Lightning Organization in 2021. Coach Annette is Safesport certified and a member of NFCA.   

Annette is also entrepreneurial in her “spare” time. She has created and successfully operated several businesses over the years, including being a partner in Watson, Cooke & Jones, PA CPA firm, owning and operating the Wendell General Store, and The Total Connection newspaper which was in operation for 28 years.   

She loves being able to spend time with these young athletes sharing her love for the game and competitive nature with them. Coach Annette tried to teach the girls the many life lessons to be learned by being part of the team in hopes that they will have a bright and successful future on and off the field.  

Coming Soon

Coming Soon