Our Coaching Staff

Meet the Trainers

Our coaches bring real playing and coaching experience to every session. Each trainer is passionate about player development and committed to helping athletes reach their full potential.

Softball

Co-Owner | Softball Coach/Hitting Instructor

Tony Genovese

With over 30 years of coaching experience, Tony Genovese brings extensive knowledge, passion, and expertise to the game of softball and baseball. His background in competitive softball, player development, and advanced training techniques has helped athletes improve their skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Tony specializes in hitting, catching, defensive fundamentals, and overall player development, with an emphasis on teaching proper mechanics, game strategy, and the mental aspects of competition. His coaching approach focuses on developing well-rounded athletes through strong fundamentals, discipline, and a commitment to continuous improvement. In addition to his softball experience, Tony brings 15 years of experience as a baseball coach and professional scout with the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles organizations. Throughout his career, he has helped more than 250 athletes advance to NCAA Division I programs, demonstrating his dedication to preparing players for success at the collegiate level. Tony helped start a second Carolina Elite organization, a nationally competitive softball organization that grew from a single team to more than 25 teams, earning national rankings throughout the years.

HittingCatchingPlayer Development

Softball

Softball coach/hitting instructor

Dana Fusetti

Coach Dana Fusetti brings more than 25 years of coaching experience and a lifetime of softball knowledge to Premier Softball. After college she played professionally overseas in 6 countries for 14.5 years and was a member of the Dutch National Team before a severe injury. During her playing career, Dana also spent more than 7 years coaching in Holland, New Zealand, and Italy. After returning from Italy, she transitioned directly into collegiate coaching at USC Upstate. She has since been recognized as one of the Top 35 softball coaches in the country. Dana is about growth and competition. Her teams have earned impressive finishes at some of the most competitive events in fastpitch softball, including 9th place at PGF Premier Nationals, 3rd place at Triple Crown Nationals, multiple ASA State Championships, a Top-5 finish at the Boulder IDT, and a championship at the Ray Chandler Memorial Tournament. Spring of 2026 she led her 12u team to a 28-0 winning season with 9 of the 12 players being her personal students. Her and her management team decided to move up the team to 14u where they had an impressive finish at the USSSA Nationals earning 4th place while batting the entire roster of 12. Throughout her career, Dana has coached and mentored numerous standout athletes who continued their careers at nationally recognized programs, including Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Duke, Michigan, Clemson, Maryland, Indiana, Liberty, Virginia, and Oklahoma. Among the many athletes she has had the privilege of working with are Karlyn Pickens, Camryn Sarvis, Lexie Hames, Ariel Krueger, Reganne Bennett, Shelby Barbee, Savannah Jessie, Savannah Henley, Brylee Mesusan, Ava Gundling, Bria Bosiljevac, Carley Keller, and Lexi Godwin, among many more. Dana has also helped athletes earn collegiate opportunities and scholarships even when they did not play directly for her. One of Dana's favorite coaching memories began when she watched a 9.5-year-old Karlyn Pickens pitch at the same chain facility and after only an hour, Dana told Karlyn's father that if she stayed committed to the sport, she would someday be the hardest thrower in softball history. Years later, Karlyn fulfilled that prediction — breaking the record and then surpassing her own mark. Dana specializes in hitting instruction and the essential fundamentals of throwing and fielding. Her training emphasizes proper mechanics, confidence, softball IQ, mental toughness, and a competitive mindset. She works with athletes of all ages and ability levels, helping each player recognize her potential and prepare for the next level. Dana's son, Ejan, now assists her with coaching, making the sport they love a true family passion. For Dana, coaching has never been defined solely by championships or trophies: 'The kinds of wins that matter most to me is watching athletes realize their dreams and exceed expectations — that is more rewarding than any trophy. It's what my students do when no one is watching that helps them excel when they cross that white line onto the field.'

HittingPlayer DevelopmentPlayer Recruitment

Baseball

Baseball Instructor

Bobby Youngblood

With over 32 years of coaching experience, Bobby Youngblood is one of South Carolina's most respected and recognizable figures in baseball. His extensive background includes coaching at the collegiate, high school, American Legion, and select travel baseball levels, as well as collegiate basketball. Throughout his career, Coach Youngblood has conducted more than 73,000 hitting and pitching lessons, helping athletes develop their skills, build confidence, and pursue opportunities at the next level. One of Bobby's proudest accomplishments is having been fortunate enough to play a role in helping 28 athletes advance to professional baseball and more than 150 players continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level. His dedication to player development extends far beyond the field, as he takes pride in helping athletes reach their full potential and achieve their goals. As the former managing partner of The Sports Academy, South Carolina's first indoor training center of its magnitude, Bobby has been a leader in advancing player development throughout the Upstate. Career Highlights & Accomplishments: • Easley Baseball Hall of Fame inductee • Over 73,000 hitting and pitching lessons taught • Helped 28 players reach professional baseball • Helped 150+ players advance to collegiate baseball • Associate Scout • Former collegiate baseball and basketball coach • 12 years of providing select travel baseball teams • Member of the South Carolina District One coaching staff, which has earned four World Championships and one U.S. title • Leader in establishing Pro-Day events on college campuses, creating valuable exposure opportunities for Upstate athletes Bobby is also the founder of Hardball Elite, a recruiting agency dedicated to helping student-athletes navigate the recruiting process and achieve their goals of competing at the collegiate level. With decades of experience, a passion for teaching, and a commitment to helping athletes succeed, Coach Youngblood brings exceptional knowledge and expertise to Premier Softball and Baseball.

PitchingHittingRecruiting

Softball

Softball Pitching Instructor

Austin Adkins

Austin is a 2004 graduate of Boiling Springs High School and 2008 graduate of Lander University. She played collegiately at Lander, where she earned back-to-back Peach Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll accolades and finished her career ranked in the top five in program history for appearances (2nd), strikeouts (4th) and shutouts (5th). She received her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 2008. Following her playing career, Austin began instructional lessons for pitchers, and now has close to two decades of experience. Along the way, Austin has also served as an assistant coach for two local NCAA collegiate programs. At Furman University, she was involved with every aspect of the program during the 2009-2012 seasons, including serving as the pitching coach. She helped lead Furman to a 24-23 record in 2010, marking the Paladins' first winning season in a decade. Austin tutored a Furman pitching staff that fashioned a 2.67 ERA and included All-SoCon selection Lana Mackey and SoCon All-Freshman pick Kayla Suskauer. Her Paladin pitching staffs ranked in the top three in the Southern Conference in ERA two of her four seasons. At Southern Wesleyan University, during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, she was also the Warriors pitching coach. During the 2020 Covid-shortened season, the Warrior staff were a top-15 nationally ranked staff, holding opponents to a .220 batting average with a 2.20 ERA, including garnering wins against two nationally ranked teams. Austin lives in Six Mile, South Carolina with her husband, Coy.

PitchingMechanicsFundamentals

Baseball

Baseball Hitting Instructor

Mike Gianni

Mike Gianni brings extensive playing, coaching, and teaching experience to Premier Softball & Baseball. He played four years of collegiate baseball at the College at Brockport in New York before beginning his coaching career as an assistant coach for the college's baseball program. Mike went on to spend 18 years coaching at Wren High School, serving nine years as the Junior Varsity Head Coach and nine years as the lead Varsity Assistant Coach. Throughout his coaching career, he has gained valuable experience developing players, strengthening fundamentals, and helping athletes improve their overall performance on the field. In addition to his baseball coaching background, Mike spent nine years as an elementary physical education teacher at Wren Elementary School, further strengthening his ability to teach, motivate, and connect with young athletes. At Premier Softball & Baseball, Mike offers baseball hitting instruction, focusing on developing strong fundamentals, improving mechanics, and helping players build confidence at the plate. His combination of collegiate playing experience, high school coaching, and teaching makes him a valuable resource for athletes looking to take their game to the next level.

HittingMechanicsOffense

Softball

Softball Coach/ Hitting & Catching Instructor

Adrienne Nix

A California native, Adrienne Nix brings an impressive background of collegiate playing experience and coaching expertise to Premier Softball and Baseball. Adrienne began her softball career playing competitive travel ball with the Choppers and Pirates before continuing her athletic career at the University of South Carolina, where she was a four-year starting catcher for the Gamecocks. During her collegiate career, she helped lead South Carolina to three NCAA Regional appearances and the 2000 SEC Tournament Championship. Following her playing career, Adrienne transitioned into coaching, sharing her knowledge and passion for the game with athletes at multiple levels. Her coaching experience includes working with Carolina Elite travel softball teams and serving as an assistant coach at both Southern Wesleyan University and Furman University. With her extensive experience behind the plate and at the collegiate level, Adrienne is passionate about helping young athletes develop strong fundamentals, improve their skills, and build confidence on the field. Adrienne is excited to bring her experience and knowledge to Premier Softball and Baseball, where she offers private hitting and catching lessons to help players reach their full potential.

HittingCatchingPlayer Development

All Sports

Founder of M.A.P. Training | Strength, Speed & Agility Coach

LaDarius "Tank" Hawthorne

Coach LaDarius "Tank" Hawthorne is the founder of M.A.P. Training and is dedicated to helping athletes reach their full potential both on and off the field. With a strong athletic background and firsthand experience as a competitor, Coach Tank understands the discipline, dedication, and mental toughness required to succeed in sports. His training philosophy focuses on developing the complete athlete through individualized programs emphasizing strength, speed, agility, mobility, and overall athletic performance. He believes consistency, hard work, and confidence are essential to success and strives to create an environment where athletes are challenged, motivated, and encouraged to push beyond their limits. Beyond physical development, Coach Tank is passionate about mentoring young athletes and helping them build character, leadership skills, and confidence. His goal is not only to develop stronger, faster, and more competitive athletes but also to inspire them to become better teammates, leaders, and individuals. As a proud husband and father, Coach Tank understands the importance of being a positive role model. He brings that same dedication, integrity, and commitment to every athlete he trains. At Premier Softball and Baseball, Coach Tank leads M.A.P. Training's strength and agility programs, helping athletes improve their athletic abilities, build confidence, and develop the foundation needed to excel at the next level.

StrengthSpeedAgility