Coaches ~ 2024-2025
Jon Halland
GA Sandlot Owner/Head Coach 17U
Coach Jon Halland is the Owner of GA Sandlot Baseball. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners after playing at Arizona State University.
Coach Halland co-founded the Arizona Sandlot Baseball organization in 2004. His goal is to bring his knowledge and experience to Georgia where GA Sandlot will be available at all age levels.
Courtney Ward
Coach Ward was a 3-year letterman starter of the Lovejoy High School varsity baseball team. There, he was a 2x Clayton County all star starter; 2 time most outstanding hitter; 2011 all region first team; 2009 & 2010 all region honorable mention.
After high school, Courtney went on to play at Miles College and Jackson State University, a Division 1 school in Jackson, Mississippi.
Coach Ward is in his 2nd year coaching at North Atlanta High school and first year as the JV head coach with a record of 15-1.
Andrew Swanson
Andrew is a dedicated and experienced baseball coach with a distinguished background, both as a player and a mentor. His baseball journey began with a standout collegiate career, earning the prestigious title of 2017 TCCAA Conference Player of the Year and an NJCAA Division I and All-American Honorable Mention. Andrew played one year at Georgia College, two years at Dyersburg State, and concluded his playing career at Tennessee Tech, where he graduated Cum Laude with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies and minors in Exercise Science and Communication.
With over five years of coaching experience, Andrew has developed a comprehensive approach to player development, focusing on hitting, fielding, nutrition, strength and conditioning, and teamwork. He has successfully designed and implemented functional nutrition and training programs tailored to enhance athletic performance. Andrew’s commitment to holistic player development includes mentoring athletes on practical tactics and strategies to overcome failure and mental roadblocks.
Andrew’s dedication to the sport and his players has made him a respected figure in the baseball community, known for his ability to inspire and elevate the performance of his teams and individual athletes.
Theo Hassan
Coach Hassan is a Native of College Park where he was a 4 year letterman of the Lovejoy High School varsity baseball team. There, as a middle infielder and switch hitter, Theo earned 2 consecutive All-Region 2nd Basemen awards.
After high school, Theo went on to play at Jackson State University, a Division 1 school in Jackson, Mississippi. There, Theo earned 2 Championship Rings. He also earned his way to being one of the Top closers of his team. Appearing in over 100+ innings, Theo was able to throw consistently 94mph and as hard as 96mph.
Brian Hampton
Brian Hampton is a native of East Cobb where he grew up playing football, basketball and baseball. He played basketball and football at Pope High School and went on to play football for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he was a 3+ year starter at QB and 2 time captain.
Since graduating from college, Brian has coached all three sports at all levels from tee-ball, to high school, to college football. Brian has been a coach at East Side since 2014 where he has coached over 20 seasons, including Summer Allstars. He has been the head coach of the East Side Thunder/Diamondbacks/Sandlot for the past 6 years.
Jon Brinson
My athletic background has always been split between two distinctly different sports – baseball and racquetball. When I was a boy, I dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. That dream ended in college (Campbell University in NC). “Life after baseball” has led me to 6 years as a professionally sponsored racquetball player, 15+ years of competitive/tourney softball (fastpitch and slowpitch) and 6+ years of coaching 9U – 12U baseball (Sandy Springs and East Side).
Over the course of thousands of games on the field, I’ve been fortunate to receive a lot of amazing instruction/advice from coaches, instructors, and teammates (including former professional players). Looking back at it all, I wish I knew what I know now back when I was chasing my dream. That “wish” helps fuel my passion for coaching kid’s baseball. In the 9U – 12U space, it is important to build a foundation rooted in sound mechanics, mental and physical toughness and learning the on-field baseball IQ items that will differentiate as you progress in the game. My promise as a coach is to be a positive role model in helping the kids build these foundational baseball skills in a fun, team-focused environment that will allow them to forge friendships and learn important life lessons as they progress on their baseball journey.
Jesse Franklin
Hitting Coach
Jesse is available for GA Sandlot players. Contact him via email at: JESSEFRA@umich.edu
Jesse was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Washington State in 2017. He was a 3 year starter at the University of Michigan and played in two College World Series events, finishing 2nd overall in 2019. Drafted in the 3rd round in 2020 to the Atlanta Braves, he played three years in the Braves' minor league system. Jesse spent 2023 with the Braves AA affiliate, the Mississippi Braves. He trained 3 years at Driveline Baseball in Seattle, WA and is currently training at the Maven Baseball Lab in Atlanta.
