wolves coaching staff
1998, 1999 Assistant Varsity Coach Charlotte Latin School
2000 Assistant Varsity Coach Providence Day School
2001-2009 Head Coach South Charlotte Cyclones (MS)
2010, 2011 Assistant JV Coach Ardrey Kell High School
2011-2015 Head Coach Ballantyne Bandits (MS)
2015 - 2018 Head Coach Carolina Cardinals (MS)
2019 Charlotte Catholic Varsity Offense Coordinator
2020-2024 Head Coach Fort Mill HS, SC
2025 Head Coach Ballantyne Ridge High School
HEAD COACH
MICHAEL DESMOND
After 5 seasons at the helm of Fort Mill HS in SC, Coach Desmond was named the first ever Head Coach to lead the Ballantyne Ridge Wolves in their inaugural 2025 season. Prior to Fort Mill, Coach Desmond spent the 2019 season at Charlotte Catholic as the offensive coordinator.
While coaching at both Fort Mill and Catholic, Coach Desmond owned and operated Team Carolina Lacrosse and the Carolina Lacrosse Association.
A former elementary school PE teacher and athletic director moved to Charlotte in 1998 from Long Island, NY. After two seasons as a varsity lacrosse assistant at Charlotte Latin School, then one season at Providence Day School, Desmond started Mecklenburg Youth Lacrosse in the spring of 2001. That year 83 third, fourth & fifth-grade boys, participated in a “skill development” camp-like atmosphere. He launched StickWithUs.org the next year – with the help of dedicated Charlotte area high school lacrosse coaches and numerous parent volunteers he grows the organization into year-round programs for boys and girls from first grade through high school. His staff of professionals & volunteers built StickWithUs & the CLA into one of the most respected youth programs in the Carolinas, leading Team Carolina to national recognition as one of the best programs in the Country.
By 2008 more than 2,500 families participated in one of twenty-plus StickWithUs & CLA lacrosse programs.
By 2020 more than 280 Team Carolina/Team Charlotte athletes go on to play college lacrosse at the D1, D2, and D3 level. Boasting players are on starting rosters in National Championship wins in every division. Including Tewaaraton finalist Mike Sawyer (Charlotte Catholic/Loyola 2012), D2 Will Canata (Marvin Ridge HS) who’s hat trick in the semifinals lead Lenoir-Rhyne to the National Championship in 2023, and a D3 National “defensive player of the Year” Tommy DeLuca (Apex HS/Cabrini University 2021).
For his contributions to the growth of lacrosse in the Carolinas, Coach Desmond was named the US Lacrosse-NC Chapter “Man of the Year” in both 2009 & 2015, and will be inducted into the chapters “Hall of Fame” in January 2025.
In June 2022 Coach Desmond sold the Carolina Lacrosse Association (including Team Carolina) programs to Reyes Sports Enterprises, a professional sports management company that helps club teams and event organizers across the country deliver a premier experience. After the sale of CLA, Coach Desmond continues to run his non-profit, The SickWithUs Organization, that each spring produces the Heroes Bowl.
AssistanT COACH - OFFENSE - aime caines
Coach Caines, the current box lacrosse director and head coach of the Carolina Canes, spent last spring as the head coach at Lake Norman Charter where he led the Knights to their 3rd consecutive 3A state lacrosse championship.
A native of Windsor, Ontario, Coach Caines brings extensive experience serving the professional, collegiate club, high school and youth ranks in lacrosse. Played 6 seasons in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), played 4 seasons in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA), played 8 seasons in the Major Series Lacrosse (MSL). Former NLL Assistant Coach for 6 seasons for the Minnesota Swarm, while also serving as the organization’s league director of the Minnesota Swarm Youth Box League. He’s was the offensive coordinator for the University of Minnesota Lacrosse Club, and head coach at East Ridge High School in MN. Following the Swarm’s move to Atlanta, he became co-founder and owner of Play Like a Pro Lacrosse in Woodbury, Minnesota.
As a pro, Caines tallied 110 points (52g, 58a), 82 PIM and 206 loose balls in his career as a forward. His playing career began in Windsor, Ontario where he played minor box lacrosse.
AssistanT COACH - defense/fo -
Dan Mcmahon
A native of Central Square, NY played collegiately at Herkimer College in upstate NY before completing his career at Queens University, Charlotte. Coach McMahon has been a staple in the Charlotte area lacrosse scene since graduating from Queens in 2007, will serve as the Wolves defensive coordinator and face-off coach.
A face-off midfielder in college for the Royals, he was selected to represent the USA in the Prague Lacrosse Cup shortly after graduation. McMahon started his coaching career as a varsity assistant at Ardrey Kell High School for the school’s first 3 seasons. Currently an ELA teacher at Monroe Middle School, he was the former head coach at Holy Trinity and Charlotte Country Day’s middle school teams while working for Team Carolina & Carolina Miners club teams in the off season since 2008.
AssistanT COACH - Matt Hogan
Coach Hogan was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. He attended Charlotte Catholic High School where he was a lacrosse state champion in 2008 and received first team all-state his senior year as a long stick midfielder. He went on to play club lacrosse at NC State University. After graduation, he returned to Charlotte and has been involved in coaching youth sports ever since. Coach Hogan is currently a teachers assistant at Ballantyne Ridge HS in the EC Dept, and was an assistant coach for the Wolves swim team this winter. He will be assisting Coach McMahon with the defense this spring.
Luke centore
Goalie Coach
BIO COMING SOON