Al Carlson – Founder of the Iowa Lightning

Coach Al is in his 16th season with the Iowa Lightning and Iowa Thunder organizations. He started the programs as a philanthropy project and has maintained this position throughout his years with the Iowa Lightning and Iowa Thunder teams. Both organizations provide basketball developmental skills but more importantly, Coach Al believes in developing young people with life and leadership skills for their future. A regular feature for Iowa Lightning and Iowa Thunder participants are weekly emails from Coach Al featuring basketball tips, life skill tips and attending college tips.

Coach Al is an experienced high school coach and is still actively coaching. He has coached at the Iowa Class 4A level in girl’s varsity and middle school basketball over the past two decades. Coach Al has spent many years coaching high school football in Oskaloosa and currently serves as the defensive coordinator for Pella Christian high school.

In his profession, Coach Al serves as the Senior Manager of Leadership and Organizational Development of a major Iowa employer. He attended Fergus Falls Community College in Fergus Falls, MN where he was a Junior College All-American in football and earned Division 1 scholarship offers. Coach Al elected to play football at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS where he served as team captain and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Marketing. Coach Al is married to his wife Debbie and they have three children, all who have or are still actively competing in athletics.