Coaching Staff

In 2026, Meistickle will begin his 44th season at the helm of the Crackers since the team was "reborn". The number of former players now approaches 1400. 300 plus of the 1400 players have gone on to play professional baseball. 

In 1982 and after his professional career came to a close, Kevin Meistickle dedicated himself to assisting and helping players continue their careers at the collegiate or professional level. More than 100 of his former players have also continued into coaching at either the high school, college or professional level. His Cracker teams remain the only team to have competed for all four major (amateur) national championships -- NBC, Stan Musial,  Dizzy Dean and NABF. The Crackers won the Sunbelt League Championship in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2025. The Crackers also celebrated winning their 1000th game during the 2016 season. For his efforts in amateur and semi-professional baseball, Meistickle was inducted into the National Semi-Pro Hall Of Fame in 2017.  

Drafted by the New York Mets in the 34th round of the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft from Thiel College (Greenville, PA),played 10 seasons with several organizations including the New York Mets, the Atlanta Braves, the Montreal Expos, the Minnesota Twins, the Pittsburgh Pirates and several teams in Mexico and Latin America. Coach Meistickle is the first Thiel College athlete to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft and was the College’s first professional baseball player. 

Pitching Coach Steve Autry began his 28th year with the Crackers in 2026. A 2017 National Semi-Professional Baseball Hall Of Fame Inductee, Coach Steve Autry has been labeled by many as a gifted and energetic teacher with an extraordinary talent to "reach the unreachable". Autry is a former Cracker in his own right, as a pitcher whose amateur playing career spanned an amazing 20 years. A standout pitcher at Chattahoochee Valley CC and Augusta College, Autry still holds several school, amateur and Cracker records for strikeouts, appearances and innings pitched. Coach Autry brings a positive attitude and highly inspirational approach to instructing and teaching pitchers. “After my efforts to play professionally were over, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. To be a positive influence on players, help them develop their skills, build confidence and get them to the next level is my goal. It's not about me; it’s about the player. Everyone learns differently and being able to reach, teach and inspire young players is something I take great pride in. It's really bigger than baseball." 

 Since the 2012 season, Brad Ethridge has served as 3rd base coach and hitting coach for the team. With a take charge attitude and with a passion for teaching young players, Coach Ethridge works with players to improve their hitting techniques and monitors players' swings over the course of the season, advising them when necessary between at-bats on adjustments to make. He also oversees their performance during infield practices, cage sessions, and pre-game batting practice. His dedication to assisting players in refining and perfecting their skills both at the plate and on the base paths has been invaluable and has been a contributing factor to the teams success in recent years. A power hitter and RBI leader on most teams he played for, "The Captain" played collegiately at South Georgia State College, Embry-Riddle (where he helped lead his team to the 2002 NAIA World Series) and Lee University where in 2004 he was named team MVP and earned All American honors. He was also named as an All Region and All Conference player in 2005.  He is a 2004 graduate of Lee University with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Theology. Ethridge was inducted into the National Semi Pro Baseball Hall Of Fame in 2017.

Gil Navarro has served as a coach for the Crackers in the Sunbelt Baseball League and adds many years of managerial and coaching experience to an already knowledgable staff.  In addition to his time with the Crackers, Navarro has a history in the Sunbelt League, including time as a Head Coach for the Marietta Patriots, winning the Sunbelt Baseball League Championship, defeating the Crackers in 2017.Coach Navarro is also a member of the North Cobb Christian School Hall Of Fame.  Coach Meistickle on Navarro. "Gil is an extremely knowledgeable and experienced "baseball man" and we're lucky to have him as part of our club. He really has a passion for the game and for teaching young players." In his Coach Navarro brings over 35 years of coaching experience to the team and is known for his talent of teaching base running and defensive strategy. As manager of the Patriots, his team made the Sunbelt League playoffs in all but one season and also reached the Sunbelt Championship twice in 2017 and 2018. The highlight of Navarro's tenure came in 2017 when he guided the Pats to a team-record 22 wins, capped by the first Sunbelt title in team history, winning the 2017 SBL Championship defeating the Crackers. Navarro also serves as an assistant coach at North Cobb Christian following a 16 year stint as an assistant at Marietta High School. Throughout his high school coaching career, Coach Navarro has won two State Championships and four Region Championships, and has aided in the development of over 100 student-athletes including current Atlanta Braves starting shortstop Dansby Swanson, and future MLB draft picks Evan Steele and Chavez Clark. Prior to his coaching career, Navarro played baseball at the Bronx Community College and later attended New York University where he studied Computer Science. Navarro and his wife Rosina have three sons, Gilberto, Daniel, and Luis. 

Coach Collier Knox joins the Crackers for the 2026 season and will be a valuable addition to the staff.

Coach Knox played 4 years at Duluth High school before going on to play for 4 years collegiately at Bryan College where he majored in Education. 

Knox began his coaching career at Duluth High School and has also coached at South Forsyth High school where he ran the JV program while overseeing all the catchers for the program. After 2 years Knox took a job teaching Special Education in US History as well as a baseball and softball coaching position at North Gwinnett where he oversees all the Catchers on a daily basis for both programs. "Getting to work with catchers on a daily basis is so rewarding because it is a very undervalued position. I always say nobody knows what we go through daily but us." That has been an emphasis since getting to North on creating a unique culture within the catching group. "We are a family in the catching group from the senior all the way down to the freshman. We compete when it's time to compete and get after it with each other and then cheer each other on and be each other's biggest supporters when we aren't competing against each other. I love being able to create these relationships." Since arriving at North, Knox has been an assistant on 4 straight region championship teams, 3 Elite 8 finishes and 1 Final 4 Finish. 

In 2023 Knox was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gwinnett County Dugout Club. Knox also spent time in the travel ball world coaching with Team Elite for 5 summers winning a Perfect Game WWBA National Championship as an assistant coach during his time with Team Elite. Coach Knox is set to marry his Fiancé Hailee in November, and they have a 5-year-old son Asher who loves going to the baseball field and "hanging out with the guys." 

Coach Knox on being added to the staff with the Crackers; "My family and I are excited to be a part of the Crackers organization and looking forward to getting after it this summer!" 

Keltin Devoe will have limited time coaching with the team in 2026 due to his commitment at the youth level.  A talented young coach who connects with players, Coach Devoe was a standout infielder at Flowery Branch before furthering his baseball career at the often nationally ranked Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City Alabama.  Coach Devoe is also a former Cracker player and a member of the 2014 SBL Championship team. 

During his second year at Chattahoochee Valley , his college career was cut short by an injury but his inspirational journey to overcome that injury has inspired many!  

https://youtu.be/g_Z71mQ_vyU?si=CjIUaTQgjIy-7k4M

Coach Devoes' love for baseball continues in his passion for teaching and coaching youth players with Team Elite.