Meet our Athletic Staff

David Gatoux - Email

David is in his 30th year in independent school athletic administration and has led Latin Athletics since 2012. He is a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) who has served on the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s (NCISAA) Board of Advisors since 2013 and is the current president of the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA).  During his extensive career, David’s background includes academic advising, teaching (PE, French, Economics), and coaching, most significantly at the head varsity girls basketball position (20 years). His past experience includes Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY, Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, NC, and the Galloway School in Atlanta, Georgia. David earned a B.A. from Denison University, where he was also a 4-year letterman on the varsity football team and an M.A. from Ohio University. His interests outside of Latin Athletics include running, biking, traveling and spending time at the beach with his wife, Kristin, and daughter, Grace.

Chris Berger - Email 

Chris Berger transferred to Charlotte Latin for his junior year of high school and earned All-Conference and All-State honors as a leader of the Hawks’ varsity basketball team. He went on to play at Wingate University before transferring to Queens University, where he still appears in the record books for 3-point shooting and was teammates with Donay Fullwood. Coach Berger joined the Latin staff in 1994 as a varsity boys' basketball assistant to Latin Athletic Hall of Fame honoree Jerry Faulkner. He then led the JV basketball team for ten years before taking over the varsity program in 2009. Coach Berger also played golf for Queens University and has been leading the Hawks on the links since 2014. He received the CLS Booster Club Varsity Coach of the Year award in 2019 and the Observer Boys' Golf Coach of the Year Award in 2023. He and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters.

Tim Kelly - Email

Tim joined Latin’s staff as the Head Athletic Trainer in 2007 and added Assistant Athletic Director duties to his role in 2013. He also coached the JV Boys’ Lacrosse team from 2008-2015. Tim previously worked at Rhodes College, serving as an assistant for three years before moving into the Head Athletic Trainer position in his final two years there. He earned a B.S. from Marietta College in 2001 and an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia in 2002. Tim was selected as one of ten national finalists for Training & Conditioning magazine’s Most Valuable Athletic Trainer award in 2017. He and his wife Katy have two children – son, Connor, and daughter, Payton.

Eric Smith - Email

Eric Smith has coached at Latin since August 1993 on several teams including varsity girls' basketball, all levels of football, middle school boys' basketball, softball, and golf. As the varsity girls' basketball coach from 1995-2005, Smith won two NCISAA state championships (1995 and 1997). He returned to that role for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. Smith served as a history teacher in the Middle School for more than 25 years before moving into a full time athletics position as an Assistant Athletic Director overseeing Middle School sports. His wife, Katie, is a teacher in the Lower School, and they have two children at Charlotte Latin. 

Angel Trimble - Email

Angel joined Latin’s staff in 2016 as the Sports Information Director. She added Head of the Swim Program in 2023. She has an extensive background in marketing, most recently as the Director of Communications and Marketing for SwimMAC Carolina and as the owner of Trimble Creative Services. Angel has also worked as a contractor for The Charlotte Observer and as an assistant producer for WBTV News. She earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Science from Virginia Tech, with minors in communications, business, and sociology. She was a full scholarship swimmer for the Hokies, earning scholar athlete honors all four years and serving as a team captain her junior and senior years. Angel’s interests outside of work include supporting her teenage sons’ athletic teams, cheering on the Hokies and the Panthers, hiking, fitness, and photography.

Joe came to Charlotte Latin in 2021 joining both the Upper School Math and Athletics Department. On campus, he has taught numerous math courses while also running the Hawks Media Production program for students interested in sports broadcasting and athletics media. Joe was born and raised in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA and a huge fan of all Pittsburgh sports. Before moving to Charlotte, Joe lived and worked at an independent school in the DC area for 15 years. He met his wife, Megan, in DC and got married in June, 2021 in Knoxville, TN. Joe earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and enjoys playing golf and hanging out with his dog, Piper.

Spencer Wims joined the Charlotte Latin community in August 2023 as the new head of the boys' lacrosse program and a support staff member of the athletic administration. Wims played lacrosse at Limestone College, where he was a two-time All-American, a two-year team captain, and the receipient of the Limestone College Male Athlete of the Year award in 2011. He went on to play professionally with the Charlotte Hounds before moving full time into coaching. Wims was tasked with establishing the varsity men's lacrosse program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL, where he coached from 2016-2023. Wims and his wife, Jennifer, have two young daughters. 

Andy Russo joined Charlotte Latin Summer 2024 as the new Head Athletic Trainer. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from James Madison University before moving to Charleston, SC to work at the College of Charleston. Over the course of five years at CofC, Andy worked with the men's soccer, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball, and baseball programs. While in Charleston, he also earned his Master of Arts degree in Sport Management from The Citadel. Most recently, he was the Head Athletic Trainer at Lucy Beckham High School in Mt. Pleasant, SC, overseeing the sports medicine operations and helping establish the athletic program after the school opened in August of 2020. Andy loves to go surfing and play golf, as well as spend time together with his fiancée Amelia and their dog Ziggy. They love to see live music, sports, and spend time with family.

Kristin is a Latin alumna from the class of 2010. She was a two-sport athlete who played varsity basketball for four years and also played goalie for the varsity girls' soccer team under the guidance of her father, long-time head coach Lee Horton. A graduate of Liberty University, Kristin holds a bachelor's degree in athletic training and a master's degree in sports management. She continued to play soccer with the Charlotte Lady Eagles and Baton Rouge, before pursuing her athletic training career. She has worked with programs at UNCC, the Charlotte Lady Eagles, the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, NOLA Gold (a professional rugby team), and Charlotte Christian School. While working in New Orleans, Kristin served on the board of Women's Sports Medicine. After her return to Charlotte, Kristin was thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Latin and become part of the athletic training staff in 2021. She and her husband, Cody, have two cats and are expecting their first child in September 2022. 

Cheri joined Latin’s athletic training staff in 2001. She earned her B.A. from West Virginia University in exercise physiology and went on to attain a M.Ed. in counseling and guidance from Clemson University. Cheri worked at Wake Forest University for four years as an athletic trainer for the volleyball and women’s tennis programs before bringing her skills to Charlotte Latin. She is a CPR instructor with the American Heart Association and has trained numerous students and staff members.

Coach Paige has been part of the Mat Hawks program since 2005. Originally an off-campus assistant, he joined the Latin staff full time in 2015 as the head of the strength and development program. Coach Paige took over the reins of the wrestling program in 2016 and has continued the tradition of excellence he helped establish. After just one year as head coach, he was named the Observer’s Mecklenburg Wrestling Coach of the Year, the South Charlotte Weekly Wrestling Coach of the Year, and received the Hawkspy Newcomer Award. The wrestling program earned a tenth consecutive NCISAA State Championship in 2021, and Coach Paige was once again honored by the Charlotte Latin Booster Club, this time as Coach of the Year. In 2023-24, after the wrestling program won its 25th state championship, he was selected as the Charlotte Observer Wrestling Coach of the Year. Coach Paige is also a physical education teacher.

Giovanni Mack was a prolific scorer during his high school basketball career in Charlotte, at Providence High School through his junior year, then graduating from Butler High School. He went on to play collegiately at Texas Southern University and UNC-Pembroke. After graduating with a degree in exercise science in 2018, Mack continued to play internationally in Istanbul, Turkey. Coach Mack joined the Latin staff in 2021 as an assistant to the varsity girls basketball team and added the role of head coach of the 8th grade girls team in 2023. In 2024-25, he became the head of the girls' basketball program and joined the strength and conditioning staff.

Caitlin Peters played collegiate volleyball for UNC-Pembroke where she earned a B.S. in exercise sport science with a concentration in exercise physiology. She then went on to earn an M.S. in sport management from Florida State University and joined the Latin physical education staff in 2018, becoming the volleyball head of program that fall.

Coach Cooke came to Charlotte Latin in the summer of 2019 from Porter Ridge High School where he was the head baseball coach and a physical education teacher. The bulk of his coaching career was at his alma mater, Independence High School, where he spent six years as a teacher and head of the baseball program. Cooke’s teams won conference championships in 2014 and 2016, earning him coach of the year accolades. Cooke graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a bachelor’s degree in sports management, and earned All-Big South honors as both a football and baseball player. As a senior, he served as a captain for both teams and was selected as the Gardner-Webb Male Student-Athlete of the Year. He was inducted into Gardner-Webb’s Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2021. The Latin Booster Club award Coach Cooke as the Newcomer Coach of the Year at the 2020 Hawkspy Awards. He and his wife, Angela, have a daughter in the Lower School and a son in the Nest.

Chris Berger transferred to Charlotte Latin for his junior year of high school and earned All-Conference and All-State honors as a leader of the Hawks’ varsity basketball team. He went on to play at Wingate University before transferring to Queens University, where he still appears in the record books for 3-point shooting and was teammates with Donay Fullwood. Coach Berger joined the Latin staff in 1994 as a varsity boys' basketball assistant to Latin Athletic Hall of Fame honoree Jerry Faulkner. He then led the JV basketball team for ten years before taking over the varsity program in 2009. Coach Berger also played golf for Queens University and has been leading the Hawks on the links since 2014. He received the CLS Booster Club Varsity Coach of the Year award in 2019 and the Observer Boys' Golf Coach of the Year Award in 2023. He and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters.

Giovanni Mack was a prolific scorer during his high school basketball career in Charlotte, at Providence High School through his junior year, then graduating from Butler High School. He went on to play collegiately at Texas Southern University and UNC-Pembroke. After graduating with a degree in exercise science in 2018, Mack continued to play internationally in Istanbul, Turkey. Coach Mack joined the Latin staff in 2021 as an assistant to the varsity girls basketball team and added the role of head coach of the 8th grade girls team in 2023. In 2024-25, he became the head of the girls' basketball program and joined the strength and conditioning staff.

Nancy Atwell joined the coaching staff in 2018 by volunteering to help re-establish a cheer program at Charlotte Latin. Coach Atwell brings 10 years of cheerleading experience to this role, including 4 years as a Wake Forest University cheerleader, with a background in choreography and squad leadership.  Nancy currently serves as Latin’s Lower School Assistant Librarian and is the proud mom of 3 Latin Lifers:  William (Class of 2021), James (Class of 2016) and Caroline (Class of 2014). 

Coach Weiss began teaching at Latin in August 1990 and has coached continuously since, with stints in Middle School Soccer and Varsity and JV Boys’ Basketball, before focusing on cross country (beginning in 2004) and track (beginning in 2006). He has 6 conference championships and 14 state championships to his credit between cross country and boys and girls’ track. Weiss received the Steve Howard Excellence in Coaching award (2014) and is a three-time recipient of the Hawskpys Coach of the Year award (2023, 2018, and 2008). He was also selected as a Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach National Award Winner in 2018. When he's not on the course or the track, Coach Weiss teaches Upper School history.

A member of the Charlotte Latin Class of 2003, Sterling Masters-Deeney is excited to return to CLS to help kick off the first season of the MS Dance Team! She was the first captain of the varsity dance team in 2002 and after graduating, performed and was Dance Captain on Broadway and National Tours for 18 years in Wicked, A Chorus Line, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Fosse. She is now the Artistic Director and a member of the faculty at Jami Masters School of Dance, Ltd (JMSD) in Charlotte. Sterling trained at JMSD, as well as programs at North Carolina School of the Arts, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Ann’s Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project. She is an ABT Certified Teacher (Levels Pre-Primary to Level 3), is certified in children’s yoga through YogiBeans, and is a member of Dance Masters of America Chapter #15.

Joey Prestidge joined the Latin community as a systems operation manager in the information technology department and the head of the field hockey program in March 2021. After his first season leading the Hawks, Prestidge received the Newcomer Coach of the Year Award from the CLS Booster Club. He has successfully balanced his IT career with an extensive coaching resume that includes club, high school, collegiate, and international experience in both indoor and outdoor field hockey. After competing throughout high school and for the University of Leeds, he went on to play professionally in the National Leagues of England, France and Australia. He began coaching as a teen and has achieved certifications in coaching and umpiring in the United States, England, and France.

Coach Dayton played defensive back for Wake Forest University, where he earned a degree in political science before moving into coaching. He joined the Latin coaching staff in 2018 as the defensive coordinator for varsity football, and moved into the head coach position for the 2023 season. Dayton previously coached football at UNC Charlotte, Duke University, and Lenoir-Rhyne University. He is also the head coach of the middle school softball team and teaches physical education. The CLS Booster Club selected him as the Middle School Coach of the Year in 2022. Dayton and his wife, Laura, have a daughter and two sons.

Chris Berger transferred to Charlotte Latin for his junior year of high school and earned All-Conference and All-State honors as a leader of the Hawks’ varsity basketball team. He went on to play at Wingate University before transferring to Queens University, where he still appears in the record books for 3-point shooting and was teammates with Donay Fullwood. Coach Berger joined the Latin staff in 1994 as a varsity boys' basketball assistant to Latin Athletic Hall of Fame honoree Jerry Faulkner. He then led the JV basketball team for ten years before taking over the varsity program in 2009. Coach Berger also played golf for Queens University and has been leading the Hawks on the links since 2014. He received the CLS Booster Club Varsity Coach of the Year award in 2019 and the Observer Boys' Golf Coach of the Year Award in 2023. He and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters.

Tim Kelly joined Latin’s staff as the Head Athletic Trainer in 2007 after five years at Rhodes College. He earned a B.S. from Marietta College in 2001 and an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia in 2002. Kelly was selected as one of ten national finalists for Training & Conditioning magazine’s Most Valuable Athletic Trainer award in 2017. He has since moved into an Assistant Athletic Director role, overseeing the athletic training department and coordinating schedules for all of Latin's sports teams, officials, and support staff. Coach Kelly led the JV boys’ lacrosse team from 2008-2015 and has returned to coaching in 2023 as the head of the girls' golf program. He and his wife Katy have two children in the Lower School. 

Spencer Wims joined the Charlotte Latin community in August 2023 as the new head of the boys' lacrosse program and a support staff member of the athletic administration. Wims played lacrosse at Limestone College, where he was a two-time All-American, a two-year team captain, and the recipient of the Limestone College Male Athlete of the Year award in 2011. He went on to play professionally with the Charlotte Hounds before moving full time into coaching. Wims was tasked with establishing the varsity men's lacrosse program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL, where he coached from 2016-2023. Wims and his wife, Jennifer, have two young daughters. 

A three-sport athlete in her youth, Williams was a record-setting goalie for the women’s lacrosse team at St. Lawrence University and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. She has coached at all levels, including collegiate, and received the US Lacrosse Youth Excellence Award for Girls’ Coach of the Year in 2009. Coach Williams has been the head of the Girls’ Lacrosse program at Latin since 2012-2013, and earned NCISAA Titles in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2019. She has filled several roles within the Latin field hockey program and became the JV girls’ basketball assistant coach in 2022-23. Williams was selected as the Charlotte Observer's 2023 Girls' Lacrosse Coach of the Year. She also received the Newcomer of the Year award at the 2013 Hawkspy Awards and the Coach of the Year award in 2020. Coach Williams works as a member of the Latin Communications staff and is the CLS webmaster.

Coach Searles returned to Charlotte Latin for the 2022-2023 school year to take over the reins of the soccer program from longtime coach Lee Horton, who retired at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 seasons after 37 years. Most recently the head coach of the Butler High School boys' program, Coach Searles was named the 2021 Southwest 4A Conference Coach of the Year and the 4A Regional Co-Coach of the Year. He also served the Wesley Chapel Weddington Athletic Association in both coaching and administrative roles, and previously coached as a varsity assistant at Charlotte Latin between 2015-2019. After his second year at the helm of the soccer program, the Charlotte Latin Booster Club named him the Newcomer Coach of the Year. Coach Searles and his wife, Ashley, have two young daughters.

Coach Banda began working at Charlotte Latin in 2016 as a science teacher in the Middle School. She joined the coaching staff the same year and served as an assistant until the 2021 season when she moved into the head coach position. As a high school player, Banda led her team to three state championships, recording a school record 600 strikeouts and an ERA under 1. She went on to a successful collegiate career at Wheaton College (MA) that included a fifth place finish in the college world series, and was later inducted into her high school's Hall of Fame. Banda has provided pitching instruction for fifteen years and has coached middle school, high school, and academy teams. When she's not teaching in the classroom or on the field, Coach Banda enjoys hiking with her husband and horseback riding.

Coach Trimble joined the swim team staff in 2017 as a varsity assistant and received the Assistant Coach of the Year Award from the Booster Club after her second year with the team. She moved into the head coach position in 2024-25. Coach Trimble began swimming as a five year old on a summer league team and continued through college as a scholarship athlete at Virginia Tech. She was a two-year team captain, earned VT athlete of the week honors several times, won individual conference championships and achieved all-academic honors. In addition to her coaching role, she is the Sports Information Director and an Assistant Athletic Director for Charlotte Latin. Coach Trimble and her husband, Collins, have two sons. 

A Latin alumna from the class of 2008, Moorman (formerly Walker) has held a place on the CLS track and field record board for many years. She was a three-sport athlete that competed in volleyball, basketball, and track, and earned a scholarship to UNC Chapel Hill for her sprinting abilities. Moorman returned to her alma mater as a coach in 2013 to coach varsity track and field athletes, specializing in sprints and relays, and took on the head coach position in 2023. She was inducted into the Latin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, wed her college-sweetheart in 2019 and became a mom to a beautiful daughter in 2020. Outside of coaching, Malai currently works in corporate risk as a testing officer for Wells Fargo Bank. She has more than 10 years of testing & monitoring and risk management experience in the financial services industry. 

Caitlin Peters played collegiate volleyball for UNC-Pembroke where she earned a B.S. in exercise sport science with a concentration in exercise physiology. She then went on to earn an M.S. in sport management from Florida State University and joined the Latin physical education staff in 2018, becoming the volleyball head of program that fall.

Coach Paige has been part of the Mat Hawks program since 2005. Originally an off-campus assistant, he joined the Latin staff full time in 2015 as the head of the strength and development program. Coach Paige took over the reins of the wrestling program in 2016 and has continued the tradition of excellence he helped establish. After just one year as head coach, he was named the Observer’s Mecklenburg Wrestling Coach of the Year, the South Charlotte Weekly Wrestling Coach of the Year, and received the Hawkspy Newcomer Award. The wrestling program earned a tenth consecutive NCISAA State Championship in 2021, and Coach Paige was once again honored by the Charlotte Latin Booster Club, this time as Coach of the Year. In 2023-24, after the wrestling program won its 25th state championship, he was selected as the Charlotte Observer Wrestling Coach of the Year. Coach Paige is also a physical education teacher and dad to a son in the middle school.