COACHING STAFF

Gillian Kane is a former standout softball player and a rising leader in coaching youth sports. A record-setting pitcher at New Canaan High School, she amassed 31 career wins, 569 strikeouts, and 121 hits, finishing with a .437 batting average. Her dominance on the mound earned her multiple All-FCIAC honors, including First Team recognition as a senior, when she led the league with 234 strikeouts. Gillian still holds the all-time record at NCHS for Strikeouts in a Season and Career Strikeouts. 

 

Beyond high school, she continued her softball career at Springfield College, where she was a five-year player and served as Co-Captain in 2021 and 2022. 

 

Gillian’s passion for softball and leadership has seamlessly transitioned into coaching. She is the Head Varsity Softball Coach at King School in Stamford, CT. Gillian has also coached at all levels of the game, including 12u/14u travel ball, as well as assistant coaching roles for both varsity and JV teams at New Canaan High School. She holds a master’s degree in Athletic Leadership from Springfield College and teaches in the Wilton Public Schools system. 

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Gillian currently serves as the head coach for the RI Thunder-LFC 16u Kane team.

Kaitlyn Schmeiser is a 2015 graduate of the University of Maryland, where she was a four-year starter for the varsity softball team. She competed in three seasons of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play and spent her final year in the Big Ten, gaining valuable experience against some of the nation’s top competition and ranked teams. Primarily a pitcher, Kaitlyn also played first base and contributed offensively during her senior year. Her strongest season came as a senior, when she recorded a career-high 19 wins, 5 saves, and 176 strikeouts over 208 innings.

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Before her collegiate career, Kaitlyn was a four-year starter on her high school team and still remains the only pitcher in the history of the state of Maryland to win four state championships. In her final season, she was named the 2011 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year, the Washington Post All-Metro Player of the Year (MD/DC/VA), and the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Kaitlyn spent summers competing with the Severna Park Hornets premier team, who sent players to Division I schools all over the east coast.

 

Following her playing career, Kaitlyn's love of the game carried her into coaching, both at the high school and travel ball levels. She previously served as the pitching coach at King Upper School during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and works with pitchers as a personal instructor.

 

Kaitlyn currently serves as the head coach of the RI Thunder-LFC 14u KS team.

During her time on the Army West Point softball team, Renee established herself as one of the most dominant pitchers in program and conference history. She finished her collegiate career in 2019 as the Army and Patriot League all-time saves leader, while ranking among Army's top 10 leaders in strikeouts, appearances, innings pitched, and wins. Her performance earned her Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors, NFCA All-Northeast Region accolades, and Preseason All-Patriot League recognition. Renee set an Army single-season record and led the entire NCAA Division I with 11 saves during her freshman season in 2016. Respected for her leadership, she served as a two-year team co-captain and was repeatedly recognized on the Patriot League and ECAC Academic Honor Rolls.
 
Before West Point, she was a standout multi-sport athlete at King Philip High School, where her accomplishments earned her induction into the school's Hall of Fame Class of 2026. On the softball diamond, she was named the Hockomock Sports Underclassman of the Year, earned Hockomock League First Team All-Star honors, and captained the team. She also served as a winter track team captain and won back-to-back Hockomock League Shot Put Championships. Her performance helped lead King Philip Women's Track team to a Division II State Championship.

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Renee currently serves as the assistant coach for the RI Thunder-LFC 14u Palmer team.

Justin Palmer has quickly established himself as a respected and passionate coach within the travel softball community. Since transitioning from baseball to softball coaching in 2022 during his time at the University of Dayton, he has coached both 14U and 16U teams while bringing a competitive, player-first approach to every program he leads.

 

With over a decade of coaching experience across youth sports, Justin’s background as a multi-sport athlete and longtime center fielder gives him a strong understanding of leadership, player development, and what it takes to compete at a high level. His ability to connect with athletes and help build confidence both on and off the field has made him a valued mentor to the players he coaches.

 

Justin currently serves as the head coach for the RI Thunder-LFC 14u JP team.

Jason Palmer brings a strong athletic background and a passion for mentoring young athletes. A Stamford native and former multi-sport athlete at Stamford High School, Jason grew up around the game of softball, inspired by his mother, a record-setting catcher at the University of Connecticut.

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Jason earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2022. He has coached youth baseball for several years and has spent the past three years coaching softball. He focuses on helping athletes strengthen their fundamentals, build confidence, compete at a high level, and develop a lasting love for the game in a positive and supportive environment.

 

Jason currently serves as the assistant coach for the RI Thunder-LFC 14u Palmer team.