Join the Firestorm Family

Join our travel softball organization dedicated to fostering talent and teamwork in young athletes.

Carolina Firestorm Coaching Staff

We believe that the best coaches build more than skill - they build confidence for life. Our Firestorm staff blends high level training with heart-led mentorship. We challenge athletes to grow their game, fuel their fire, and become leaders who compete with excellence in every inning - and every aspect of life.

Club Director/Head Coach

Founder & Chairman, Midlands Minorities in Sports Organization (MMISO)

Marcus Allen, a native of Newberry County and proud graduate of Newberry High School, is the Founder and Chairman of the Midlands Minorities in Sports Organization (MMISO) and serves as Club Director and Head Coach for the Carolina Firestorm Fastpitch and Carolina Thunderstrike Baseball programs. A graduate of the University of South Carolina–Columbia, Marcus is a lifelong Gamecock fan who has carried his passion for sports into both his professional and community leadership.

Marcus has been married to his wife and college sweetheart, Melissa, for more than 23 years and is the proud father of two daughters, Myla and Maleah. He is the President/CEO of 4M Construction & Transportation LLC, a family-owned freight transportation company based in Blythewood, SC. He also serves as an Associate Minister at First Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia, SC, and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Growing up, Coach Allen competed in football, baseball, and track & field in Newberry County, along with recreational basketball. While playing quarterback at Newberry High School, Marcus suffered a knee injury that brought his playing career to an early close, but he went on to college on an academic scholarship. In 2015, he began his coaching journey the way many parents do — as a volunteer coach for his children’s teams. Since then, he has built a broad foundation of youth coaching experience, including youth soccer in Columbia, SC and Raleigh, NC, as well as serving as both Head Coach and Assistant Coach in the Blythewood Youth Baseball Softball League and the Sandhills Softball Fall League.

Marcus’ coaching philosophy is rooted in his faith and centers on love, kindness, and the belief that there is nothing that cannot be accomplished with hard work and God’s help. Love plays a vital role in his approach — because he believes that to truly teach, motivate, and inspire young athletes to love the game, a coach must first love people and the game itself. That love always manifests itself in kindness and respect for the game — whether during discipline, correction, disputes, winning or losing. With that foundation, his goal is to build athletes who hunger for excellence in everything they do, carry a positive attitude, practice good manners, and show great character — all while mastering fundamentals, embracing discipline, and learning teamwork to prepare for success in life both on and off the field.

Channa Anderson currently resides in Columbia, SC with her family, but was born and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas for most of her youth. Coach Anderson played competitive softball at the high school level, Lugoff-Elgin High School, and through travel ball organizations for 14 years. Before moving to Columbia with her husband in the summer of 2021, Coach Anderson coached 5A high school softball and volleyball at Greenwood High School, in Greenwood, SC, where she led the lady Eagles to the playoffs each year of coaching. Outside of the high school season, Coach Anderson has worked with various ages providing hitting instruction and defensive clinics for younger athletes. She has recently volunteered with local softball organizations in South Carolina as a way to develop the youth. Coach Anderson currently works in Lexington School District One as a Middle Level Behavior Interventionist. Mrs. Anderson has been in education for 12 years now and holds various degrees focused in education, school administration, and school counseling, which she obtained from Lander University (‘14) and Grand Canyon University (‘18 and ‘22). In her spare time, Coach Anderson loves spending time with my family and friends building core memories. You can often find her traveling the world or in nature enjoying the natural canvas.

As a coach and former player, her philosophy is rooted in the belief that softball is more than just a game—it is a tool for developing character, teamwork, discipline, and resilience that extend far beyond the field. With 14 years of playing experience, she brings a deep understanding of the game, an appreciation for its challenges, and a commitment to teaching both the fundamentals and the life lessons that come with competition. Her goal is to create an environment where athletes feel supported, challenged, and motivated to reach their fullest potential. Equally important, she emphasizes respect—for teammates, coaches, officials, and opponents—and expects players to carry themselves with integrity on and off the field. She believes in a player-centered approach: recognizing individual strengths, fostering growth in areas of need, and encouraging athletes to set personal and team goals. Mistakes are seen as opportunities for learning, and success is measured not only by wins and losses, but by growth, sportsmanship, and the bonds built within the team.

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Jasmine Dixon, a native of Cheraw, South Carolina, is a former standout student athlete. Currently, she’s a senior at the University of South Carolina–Columbia, majoring in Criminology/Criminal Justice and Sports Media, and is preparing for a career in law enforcement after graduation. She also plans to continue assisting young players to improve their softball skills.

As a player at Cheraw High School, Jasmine made her mark as both a hitter and a pitcher. In her senior year, she batted .486 with 16 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, and 47 RBIs. From the circle, she earned 13 wins with a 1.96 ERA and struck out 219 batters in 195 innings pitched. Her performance earned her recognition as Cheraw High School’s Female Athlete of the Year and Chesterfield County School District’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year (2021–2022). In addition, she was a high school honors graduate who ranked in the top ten of her class. She understands the importance of education to help her succeed in life and being a well-rounded student. Jasmine enjoys being active in campus life and is a proud Fall 2023 initiate of the Theta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Beyond her playing career, Jasmine continues to pour into the game as an instructor at Xtra Innings in Chesterfield, SC, where she helps young athletes refine their skills and develop their love for softball. Coach Dixon’s philosophy as a coach emphasizes combining technical skill-building with mentorship. She believes in teaching the game the right way, while also instilling discipline, teamwork, and confidence — qualities that extend far beyond the softball field.

Assistant Coach

Coach Frederick Gadson, a native of Holly Hill, South Carolina, brings decades of athletic, coaching, and leadership experience to our program. A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran and graduate of Benedict College, Coach Gadson was a four-year starter on both the baseball and basketball teams. After college, he transitioned to the U.S. Army where he continued his playing career by traveling around the world with the U.S. Army Baseball Team, competing at a high level while serving his country.

Coach Gadson’s coaching career spans more than 20 years across multiple sports and age groups. He has coached AAU basketball, served as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Chapin High School, Assistant Baseball Coach at Chapin High School, and most recently served as the Head Coach of the USA PRIME Palmetto/Kansas City Royals Baseball Team based in Irmo, SC. His extensive youth coaching background reflects a lifelong passion for mentoring athletes and building programs that emphasize fundamentals, discipline, and character.

Beyond athletics, Coach Gadson has dedicated much of his professional life to education and leadership. He is a former public-school educator in Orangeburg and Lexington County School Districts, a college professor, and is the owner/operator of Switching Lanes Driving Academy. His professional background also includes service as a decorated U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Armored Crewman and extensive experience in management and leadership.

Coach Gadson is a devoted husband and father, and a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His commitment to faith, family, and community shines through in his work with young athletes — developing them not only as players but as well-rounded individuals prepared for success on and off the field.

MARCUS ALLEN

CHANNA ANDERSON

JASMINE DIXON

FREDERICK GADSON

Location Info

The Carolina Firestorm is based in a vibrant community dedicated to youth travel softball and fostering athletic excellence.

Address

PO Box 176 Blythewood, SC

Hours

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm