COACHING STAFF
BEN NATELSON - HEAD COACH AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Coach Natelson is from Knoxville, TN. He previously was the head faculty coach for varsity boys' lacrosse at Alpharetta High School 2015-2019. He has also coached volleyball, dive team and soccer. Coach was captain of Emory Eagles Rugby team in college where he attended, class of 2001. Coach Natelson teaches mathematics at Etowah. 2024 was his first season coaching lacrosse at Etowah and he led the JV boys lacrosse team to an 11-2 winning season.
BAJRO BUZALJKO - PROGRAM DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT HEAD COACH
Coach Bajro Buzaljko (pronounced By-row Buzz-Psycho) brings over 20 years of coaching, leadership, and athlete development to the lacrosse field. A former high school lacrosse player, Bajro went on to serve 20 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, retiring after a distinguished career defined by discipline, accountability, and leading under pressure. Most recently, he served as the Operations Chief for the state of Georgia Recruiting Command, responsible for building teams, developing leaders, and executing at a high level.
Over the past 15 years, Bajro has coached athletes at the youth, middle school, and high school levels across Cobb and Cherokee County, while also training lacrosse players in speed, strength, and agility with Fury Performance in Woodstock, GA. He has been a cornerstone of the Etowah Lacrosse program, leading the 2021 and 2022 JR Eagles to league championships, assisting the 2023 Etowah Varsity team during their undefeated Region Championship season, and guiding the 2023 Etowah JV team to an undefeated season. In 2024, he served as a Varsity Assistant Coach at Woodstock High School, where the varsity boys finished as undefeated Region Champions.
Bajro currently serves as the Director of Operations for Dirty Birds Lacrosse, where he sets culture, develops coaches, and holds programs to a standard rooted in effort, toughness, and accountability. His coaching philosophy goes beyond X’s and O’s—he focuses on leadership development, mental toughness, and preparing athletes for pressure, on and off the field.
In addition to coaching, Bajro is an experienced leadership and development speaker, having delivered talks to over 35 heads of state, numerous collegiate teams, corporations, and diverse professional audiences. Whether in uniform, on the sideline, or on stage, his message is consistent: standards matter, preparation wins, and leadership is earned every day.
He is married to his wife Jordan, and together they are raising four daughters, which he considers his most demanding and rewarding leadership role of all.
ZACK PINSON - VARSITY DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Zach Pinson is the current Defensive Coordinator for the Etowah High School Men’s Varsity. A Woodstock High School alum, Zach was a two-year captain and earned All-County honors during his playing career.
At the collegiate level, Zach played for Reinhardt University, where he was a key part of the program’s dominance in the NAIA. He was a five-time NAIA National Champion—winning four titles as a player and a fifth as a Graduate Assistant Coach in 2022. A four-year starter and two-year captain, he was named All-Conference four times and was recognized as the NAIA Champion of Character during his junior year, an award voted on by opposing coaches. During his time at Reinhardt, the team compiled an outstanding 80-4 record, including an undefeated senior season.
Academically, Zach excelled, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA before earning his MBA in Business Communications. When he’s not coaching, he works in tech sales. Zach brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the Dirty Birds program and is passionate about developing the next generation of lacrosse players.
BRADY HANACK - VARSITY OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Brady Hanak joins the staff as Offensive Coordinator, bringing a championship pedigree and elite offensive insight to the program. A 2× National Champion, Hanak was a cornerstone of Reinhardt’s success both as a player and a leader. He served as Reinhardt Head Coach during the 2025 season, guiding the program to an 11–1 regular season record against the strongest strength of schedule in the nation.
As a player, Hanak was a proven offensive force—finishing twice as a Top-3 points leader in the NAIA, earning 2nd-Team All-Conference honors, and exemplifying excellence on and off the field as an NAIA Champions of Character recipient. His leadership was undeniable, being named Reinhardt Team Captain three times, including becoming the youngest captain ever voted by his teammates.
Hanak brings a player-driven, high-IQ offensive philosophy rooted in accountability, tempo, and execution—shaped by championship experience and real leadership in the locker room.
ZANE ANDERSON - VARSITY ASSISTANT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Zane Anderson joins the staff as Offensive Coordinator, bringing elite playing credentials and proven coaching experience to the offense. A 3× First Team All-American, Anderson was one of the most dominant offensive players of his era. He earned National Player of the Year honors in 2019 and was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, cementing his reputation as a game-changing force.
At Reinhardt, Anderson received the prestigious Golden Eagle Award, the program’s highest individual honor, and was a key contributor to four National Championships as a player. His success has translated seamlessly into coaching, with two years as Offensive Coordinator at Woodstock High School, where he developed and implemented effective, high-tempo offensive systems.
Anderson also brings two years of coaching experience with Dirty Birds, working directly with skill players and helping develop high-IQ, confident offensive athletes. Known for his attention to detail, competitive edge, and ability to teach the game at a high level, Anderson brings championship standards and a relentless offensive mindset to the program.
SEAN AGHAI - VARSITY ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Aghai has over 20 years of stringing experience and 12+ years of coaching experience at the youth through varsity levels. He has coached at Hillgrove, River Ridge, Sequoyah, Woodstock, & Etowah, helping players develop strong fundamentals and confidence in their game. He has played lacrosse at Reinhardt and Kennesaw State, becoming the first long pole at Reinhardt to score. A graduate of McEachern High School, he competed in three varsity sports since his sophomore year and earned a state wrestling championship. Outside of lacrosse, he manages a cabinet & countertop business, bringing a steady, organized approach to coaching.
BELVIS HAJIRIC- FACULTY ASSISTANT COACH / JV HEAD COACH
TAYLOR LOCKLIN - ASSISTANT HEAD JV COACH & OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
From 2008 to 2011, Coach Taylor Locklin was a key player for the newly established Etowah Varsity lacrosse team, serving as captain and top scorer. He earned the Most Improved Player award in 2010 and was selected as a Georgia All-Star, attracting many college scholarship offers. After graduation, he briefly played for Kennesaw State under former Etowah coach Ken Byers for a period. Taylor has remained competitive, placing 2nd the Georgia University System’s Flag Football State Championship and selected as an MVP, then later excelling in sales, and running his own real estate lending company, Locklin Capital, in Woodstock. He enjoys boating and sports, and is excited to continue the winning tradition at his Alma Mater in 2024.
RICK ELTZ - JV DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Coach Rick Eltz began his lacrosse coaching career in 2002 when his son (Seth Michael) and Aaron Jones founded the Etowah Lacrosse Club and team. He was an assistant coach for the club team until 2006 when the head coach Ken Byers left to start the Kennesaw State University program. That year Coach Eltz led them to the NGLL title with a 13-1 record and the following year, the Etowah varsity program was established. He resumed his assistant coach position in 2012 when Etowah added a JV team. Coach Eltz has been a certified lax referee since 2007 and umpires’ baseball (since 2001). Coach Eltz has also coached baseball, soccer, ice and roller hockey and football. He is also a Chiropractor (since 1983) and lives on Lake Allatoona in Woodstock with his wife Ellen.
DAVID WILLIAMSON - JV ASSISTANT COACH
Coach David Williamson is a retired Police Lieutenant/Division Commander CID from the Fulton County Police Dept./ Atlanta Police Dept (28 yrs). David has been playing lacrosse since he was six years old in Upstate New York. He played four years of Varsity for Rush-Henrietta High School in Section 5 large schools as a middie and faceoff man, where he made All-County three of those four years and the All-Tournament Lacrosse Team for Section 5. He went to Utica, New York to college and played for Herkimer CCC , winning a Jr. College National Championship and making Academic All-American. He transferred to Nazareth College of Rochester where he played Fall Ball and ended his Collegiate play. David graduated with a two-year degree in Police Science and a B.A. in History from Nazareth College of Rochester. He is a father of five children, four of them played/playing for Etowah Eagles Lacrosse program. David has coached the Cherokee County Youth 10 and 11 teams. For the past two years, he has been coaching for the Dirty Birds travel fall/summer lacrosse teams. He is currently the Head Coach for Etowah JR Eagles, 6th through 8th grades, and a Fall Etowah JV/Varsity team coach. David also has been an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for the past 12 as a Den Leader, Cub Master, and Assistant Scoutmaster with two of his sons being Eagle Scouts who also play with the Dirty Birds Programs.
ATHLETIC TRAINERS
JAMES WOMBLES - james.wombles@cherokeek12.net
ANDREW MARISCAL - andrew.mariscal@cherokeek12.net