Charles Mhlauri – Director of Coaching
Charles Mhlauri is the Director of Coaching of Lightning Soccer Club. He is the former head coach of the Zimbabwe national team, participating in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations Games. Charles holds the German A license, the most advanced coaching degree in Germany, in addition to the International DFB Coaching Certificate. He has worked with some of the top German clubs, including Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, training both senior and junior players. In addition to his work on the national team and in youth programs, Charles has coached and produced some of the top players in the English Premier League, such as Benjani Mwaruwari (Manchester City), and Peter Ndlovu (Coventry F.C., Sheffield F.C., Birmingham City FC). Beyond his work with Lightning SC, Charles regularly works camps at Bowdoin College, Wesleyan University, Yale University, Dartmouth College and Franklin Pierce University, among others, and with YSC, the Youth Development Partner of the Philadelphia Union MLS team. Charles runs NE Jr Prep Soccer Camp in partnership with fellow Lightning coach Mike Doherty. In 2008, Charles was named Ambassador for Grass Roots Soccer, an international non-profit organization that provides African youth with the knowledge, life skills, and support to live HIV-free through the game of soccer.

Cindy Bennett
Cindy Bennett was named head coach of the Plymouth State University women's soccer team in 2010. She continues in her role as a staff coach for NH ODP (Olympic Development Program) and as a Region 1 ODP goalkeeper coach. Prior to taking over at PSU, Cindy was an assistant coach at Colby Sawyer and at Dartmouth college, working primarily with the goalkeepers. Previously, Cindy was an assistant coach at University of Virginia and at her alma mater, Stony Brook University. In her playing career, Cindy was a goalkeeper for the Division 1 Stony Brook team where she was awarded Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year for the America East Conference. After college Cindy played semi-professionally with the Long Island Lady Riders, the New York Magic and the Hampton Road Piranhas. In 2004, Cindy was part of the United States U-21 National Team camp. She has been a Lightning coach since spring 2009 and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Coaching Diploma as well as certification from the NSCAA Goalkeeping Institute.

John Brigham
John played striker and midfielder for the University of Massachusetts Division 1 soccer team (2 year letter winner, 1980 & 1983). He went on to coach the U Mass JV Men’s team in 1984. He reports with humor that his highlight win that season was a 1-0 victory over his "safety school," Harvard. A three-year Varsity player in high school and captain his senior year, John credits his high school coach, Leo Williams, for inspiring his lifelong love of the game. Since moving to Norwich, VT with his wife Deanna (also a Lightning head coach) and their three children, John has coached Lightning soccer for since 2005 and was Norwich Recreation soccer coach for five years. John holds a USSF E license.

Chris Cheney
Chris Cheney is head coach of the boys' varsity soccer team at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH. In his four seasons at KUA, Chris has led his team to the school’s first-ever New England Class B Championship in soccer (2008) and to the Lakes Region Championship title three times (2008, 2009, 2010). Prior to coaching at KUA, Chris was head coach of the boy’s varsity soccer team at Hanover High School in Hanover, New Hampshire where he led his team to the Class I State Championship in 2005 and was awarded the NH Coach of the Year in 2004. Chris has served as an assistant coach at Harvard University, Dartmouth College, and Wesleyan University for their European and Argentina tours. Chris has coached several State Cup Finalist Lightning Soccer Club teams. He is President of the New England Prep School Soccer Association, and holds both the NSCAA National and Advanced National Coaching Diplomas. 

Jeff Cook
Entering his 11th season as the head coach of Dartmouth men's soccer, Jeff Cook has led Dartmouth to four Ivy League Championships and six NCAA Tournaments since his arrival in 2001. Dartmouth has won three of the last seven Ivy titles (2004, '05, '08) and made NCAA appearances in six of the last seven seasons, including four straight (2004, '05, '07, '08, '09, ’10), advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2008 and 2010. During his 10 years at Dartmouth, Jeff's players have received All-Ivy recognition 50 times, including 18 first team selections. Prior to taking over at Dartmouth, Jeff was the head coach at the University of Cincinnati from 1996-2000. He was named the 1997 Conference USA Coach of the Year and led the Bearcats to the school’s first NCAA berth in 1998 and a national ranking as high as 15th in 1999. Jeff holds a UEFA ‘A’ license, which he obtained in June of 2005 from the Scottish Football Association. He also holds a U.S. Soccer ‘A’ license and the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

Deanna Denault
Deanna Denault was a four-year varsity starter and senior captain of the University of Massachusetts Division I women's soccer team. Deanna helped lead her team to two NCAA Final Four appearances starting in 1982, the first year women's soccer held a national championship. Deanna has played with and against some of the top US women’s soccer players, including Soccer Hall of Famer Michelle Akers, and former US Women’s National Team coach and captain, April Heinrichs. Deanna holds a NSCAA Advanced Regional Level IV coaching license.

Mike Doherty
Mike Doherty is the former men’s head coach at Colgate University. During his 20 years as head coach, Mike was named the Lanzera National Coach of the Year, the Patriot League Coach of the Year, and earned two NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors. He also captured two Howard Hartman Awards as Colgate’s coach of the year. Mike coached an All-American, nine first-team all-region players, 28 first-team all-Patriot League selections, and one Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and two tournament MVPs. As the former Managing Director of the Lightning Soccer Club, Mike helped build the club to compete at the state and regional levels in numbers not seen before by the club, sending two teams to the Region 1 Championships. Mike serves as the Associate Director of Admissions at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH and is the head girls varsity coach at KUA.

Dylan Gamache
Dylan Gamache is a former professional soccer player and for the past 9 years has assisted Rob Johnstone in Lebanon on the boy’s varsity soccer team.  Dylan played for the NY Fever before the MLS started back in 1994, and then in the Cosmopolitan League for 4 years playing for Fairfield Westchester United.  Dylan was a four-year starter, senior captain, and Male Athlete of the Year at Keene State College.  

Rob Grabill
Rob Grabill has been part of Lightning Soccer Club since he moved to Hanover in 1990. He has coached dozens of teams over the years. 2010 was his fifth year as head coach for the boy’s varsity soccer team at Hanover High School in Hanover, NH. Under Rob’s leadership, the Hanover boys’ team has captured five consecutive Class I State Championships. In 2008 Rob was named Class I Coach of the Year, and in 2007 he won the New England Division II Coach of the Year Award, voted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. When he first moved to the Upper Valley Rob worked with the Dartmouth men’s soccer program for six years as the Freshman Coach and another eight years as a volunteer assistant. Prior to his time in Hanover, Rob was Head Coach at New Hampshire College (now Southern NH University) where he built a program that was nationally ranked and made two NCAA appearances. While at NH College Rob was named New England Division II Coach of the Year three times and NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 1987. Rob is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the Windridge Tennis and Sports Camps, two residential co-ed camps in Vermont that draw some of the top youth players from across the country and beyond.

Rob Johnstone
Rob Johnstone has been the varsity boys’ soccer coach at Lebanon High School for the past 17 seasons. Rob was voted Class I Coach of the Year following the 1998 season, has twice been named to the New Hampshire coaching staff for the annual Lion’s Twin State Soccer Cup match with Vermont (1999, 2008), and his teams have been recognized with the Class I Sportsmanship Award on four occasions. Rob played soccer for four years at Middlebury College, graduating in 1988 with a B.A. in Religion. In the spring of 1988, Rob was the recipient of the Mike Wilson Trophy, presented annually to the Middlebury College athlete who, “while overcoming personal challenge, has shown such spirit, enthusiasm and unselfish devotion to the members of the team that is has been an inspiration in creating team morale.” Rob holds the NSCAA’s National, Advanced National, and Premier Diplomas.

Doug Kennedy
Doug Kennedy has been the head coach for the girl’s varsity soccer team at Hanover High School since 2008. He holds a USYS NHSA "E" License and a NSCAA Regional Coaching Diploma. For over 20 years, Doug has been involved in soccer in the Upper Valley; he has been a head coach for Lightning teams ranging from U8 to U16, was a board member for Lightning Soccer Club for 11 years and also coached for Hanover and Norwich Recreation programs from 1985-2007. Doug is a graduate of Middlebury College and University of Pennsylvania and is a consultant in real estate development throughout North America with focus on mountain (ski) resorts.

Dino Koff
Dino Koff was the head women's soccer coach at Trinity College of VT, where he led the Crusaders to their only title in the Northern Independence Conference and a berth in the National Tournament. A graduate of SUNY Cortland and Kansas State University, Dino had a very successful playing career in central NY. Now the Director of Financial Aid and Student Affairs at Dartmouth Medical School, Dino has remained involved in soccer in the Upper Valley and has coached for multiple ages of Lightning teams.

Bill Miles
Bill grew up playing club soccer in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA. He went on to play Division 1 soccer for University of Pennsylvania, and later for semi-pro clubs in DC and CA. After college, Bill coached high school soccer for Harrisburg Academy in Pennsylvania, followed by a stint as an assistant coach at Cabrini College in Radnor, PA, and later as a youth soccer coach in CA and here in Norwich, VT. After getting his law degree at Boston University, Bill and his wife Pam lived in Northern California, returning to the Upper Valley in 2005 with their young family. Bill is now Chief Operating Officer of Grassroot Soccer, the international non-profit organization dedicated to fighting HIV and AIDS in Africa through the power of soccer, and Lightning Soccer Club's charity partner.

Soren Smith
Soren is a long-time resident of the Upper Valley who started his soccer career at the original Lightning Soccer Camps. He played soccer at Oxbow High School in Bradford, VT and went on to play varsity soccer at High Point University in North Carolina. Soren has had a diverse range of coaching experiences. At the college level, he has served as an assistant coach for both Division III Westminster College, PA and for Springfield College, MA, and has coached at the Duke University and Dartmouth College camps. In addition, Soren has worked extensively coaching at the youth and high school level in the Upper Valley and beyond. Soren holds an Advanced National Coaching Diploma from the NSCAA. 

Rob Stainton
Rob grew up playing soccer in his native England. He played all the way through school and into his mid-twenties. He completed his English FA Coaching Preliminary Award before moving to the US. He has been the Varsity Boys soccer coach at The Sharon Academy in Sharon, VT since 2005, guiding his team to State Finals in '06, '08, '09 and '11. He was named VT Soccer Coach of the Year in 2009, and Central VT League Coach in the same year. Rob is also a teach of Biology and is the assistant Head of School at Sharon Academy. Rob holds the NSCAA Level VI diploma.

Dan Weintraub
Dan has over 20 years experience in coaching high level competitive youth soccer. He holds a USSF B coaching license, a NSCAA Premier coaching diploma, as well as the UEFA B coaching license. Dan is the Vermont State Director for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has been a head coach in the ODP (the Olympic Development Program) for U13 and U15 Girls teams in Massachusetts and Texas, and has coached highly competitive youth teams for clubs such as FC Greater Boston Bolts, Spirit of Mass and Texas Image. Dan has coached for Lightning since moving to the area.