| Register

ATL LIGHTNING BASEBALL

Content

DAN GIORDANO – Program Director/ 13U Head Coach

Dan Giordano will join the buckhead community as the Program Director of ATL Baseball. He spent 16 seasons leading the Stormy Petrel baseball program as the head baseball coach and Associate Athletic Director. He has the most career wins during the NCAA period in program history at Oglethorpe. In 2018, the Petrels finished third in the tough Southern Athletic Association and also landed the #1 recruiting class in the nation according to Perfect Game baseball. In 2015, the Petrels set an NCAA-era record with 26 wins and a .630 winning percentage. Giordano was named SAA Coach of the Year for the efforts in leading the Petrels. In early 2016, the Petrels received the Phil Niekro Scholarship Award from the Braves 400 Fan Club, which is given to an outstanding college program in Georgia. Giordano has also won the Georgia Dugout club NCAA D3 Coach of the Year in 2009. Over his career, Giordano has coached 45 all-conference members, eight ABCA All-South region members and five D3baseball.com All-South region members and one ABCA All-American. He has coached several players to go on to play professional baseball, including the first OU player to get drafted in the modern era in Daniel Sarisky (2009 40th round, Houston Astros). Under the direction of Giordano, the Oglethorpe program has set single season school records in wins, home runs, slugging percentage, on base percentage, stolen bases, fielding percentage, double plays and strikeouts. They have led the conference in home runs for five consecutive seasons and in 2017 led the nation in home runs per game. Giordano graduated from Oglethorpe University in 2002 with a degree in Business Administration and also holds an MBA from Saint Leo University. During his playing career for the Petrels he was a four year starter and is currently 3rd in school history in innings pitched. In 2002, he was named First Team ALL-SCAC and was Oglethorpe’s Pitcher of the Year. He is no stranger to the NYO community having volunteered with Christopher League for 5 years. Giordano has been running summer baseball camps for 10+ years in the Atlanta community for ages 5-15 and his camps have been ranked by the AJC as a top baseball camp in the Atlanta area.

[email protected]

JOSH KORNBLUM –ATL Operations Manager/Instructor/ 13U Head Coach

Josh has coached youth baseball for more than a decade starting as a volunteer at NYO. When ITP Baseball was created, Josh made the transition to travel baseball as an assistant coach and then as a head coach. His passion lies in developing young players to become better players and better people. He has coached in many different capacities and leagues across Atlanta. Josh has coached in the NYO Pony league, for the Dunwoody Warriors, ITP/ATL, and also offers private instruction. Josh managed the day to day operations for ITP Baseball while serving as head coach of one of the 13U teams during the 2018/2019 season. He remains a head coach at the 13U level for ATL Baseball and will remain in his role managing the day-to-day operations of the program.

[email protected]m

MICHAEL SHEPHERD – Director of Defense/Recruiting Coordinator/ 17U Head Coach

Michael Shepherd will serve as the program recruiting coordinator and assist ATL families through the college recruitment process. He will serve as a liaison between college coaches and ATL families.

Shepherd served for four seasons at Oglethorpe University serving as the assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator for the Stormy Petrels. Shepherd worked primarily with hitters, infielders, base runners and also coached third base. He assisted with academic support, player development and fundraising. Shepherd was a part of the highest school finish in the conference in school history. In 2018, he helped bring in the #1 recruiting class in the country via Perfect Game rankings. Oglethorpe has lead the conference in base stealing percentage in all 3 seasons under Shepherd’s guidance.

Shepherd graduated from Ohio Valley University in 2013 with a degree in elementary education. He was a 3-year starter on the baseball team where he had a career average of .338. He finished in the top 10 in on-base percentage in the conference his final two seasons and earned all-conference honors in his senior season. He proceeded to graduate from Ohio Valley in 2015 with his master’s in instruction and curriculum.

Shepherd has also coached in the summers with the Galion Graders, Liberal Bee Jays, and the Covington Lumberjacks. He resides in Brookhaven with his dog, Mac.

[email protected]