Dalton, GA — Dalton High School is proud to announce the appointment of Jillian Mello and DJ Hutchinson as the new head coaches for the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse programs.
Coach DJ Hutchinson has been a driving force in local lacrosse since his youth. As a former standout player for Dalton High School, Hutchinson once held the single-game scoring record and still holds the program’s all-time goals and points records.
He continued his playing career at Reinhardt University, where he helped lead the team to two conference championships and two national titles. Hutchinson has several years of coaching experience in both club and community settings and was a member of Dalton’s first-ever lacrosse team. He now returns to lead the boys' program with a vision of building a competitive, high-character team.
Coach Jillian Mello brings impressive collegiate and coaching experience to the girls’ program. She began her NCAA Division I career at the University of Massachusetts Lowell before transferring to Reinhardt University, where she played a key role in securing the 2024 national championship.
Mello earned numerous accolades during her career, including 2023 AAC Offensive Player of the Year, three AAC First Team All-Conference honors, and two NAIA First Team All-American recognitions. After joining the Dalton Lacrosse staff as an assistant in 2025, she is now stepping into the head coach role, committed to guiding the program toward future success.
Dalton High School is excited to welcome Coach Hutchinson and Coach Mello into their new roles and looks forward to the continued growth and success of the lacrosse programs under their leadership.