Coaches
Corky Rogers
Head Coach
39 Years Coaching
Career Record: 361-68-1
(through 2007 season)
220-29 at Bolles (1989-2007)
141-39-1 at Lee High School (1971-88)
7 State Championships
- Named National High School Football Coach of the Year for 2004-05 by the National High School Coaches Association
- Most wins among high school football coaches in Florida history
- Tied for most state titles among high school football coaches in Florida history
- Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2005)
- Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) Hall of Fame (2002)
- FACA Life Membership Award for outstanding contribution to high school athletics and the coaching profession
- USA Head Coach for NFL Global Junior Championships (2005)
- Sunshine Network Coach of the Year (2002)
- FACA-Dairy Farmers Football Coach of the Year (2002)
- Nominated for NFL High School Coach of the Year (2002)
- Head Coach of the North-South All-Star Football Classic (1990)
Charles “Corky” Rogers' career as a high school football coach has spanned nearly four decades, producing more wins than any other coach in Florida. He has guided the Bolles football program since the 1989 season, helping the Bulldogs to compile the most state titles of any football program in Florida.
The 2006 season ended with Bolles' eighth state title in program history and Rogers' seventh as the Bulldogs' coach. Rogers tied the mark for most state titles among high school football coaches in Florida history. The team also posted a 14-0 record to go along with district and regional titles.
In the 2005 season, he guided the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record, district championship title, and a region runners-up finish.
The 2004-05 academic year proved to be one of the most significant in Rogers' coaching career as he guided the Bulldogs to the School's seventh state title in football, became the all-time leader in wins among Florida high school football coaches, was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and was named National High School Football Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. He also shared in the Bolles Athletic Program being selected the ninth best overall program in the nation by Sports Illustrated and the 2005 football squad being named one of the top 25 teams to watch in the nation by Street & Smith's.
Rogers has established this outstanding success by focusing on a single objective: developing his players into young men who possess the character-building skills necessary to win at football and life.
Nationally recognized by collegiate coaches for his skill in producing outstanding college football recruits, Rogers insists it is due to his team members' dedication. He requires them to play the game to the best of their abilities, maintain respect for their coaches and teammates, excel academically, participate in their communities, and make the right choices in every area of their lives.
Prior to Bolles, Rogers coached at his alma mater, Robert E. Lee High School, leading the Generals to playoff appearances in 10 straight seasons. As a student-athlete at Lee, Rogers played for the 1960 state championship football team and the 1961 state baseball championship team. He is a graduate of The Georgia Institute of Technology where he lettered in football.
Rogers and his wife, Linda, have two daughters, Tracy and Jennifer, and six grandchildren.
Wayne Belger
Assistant Coach
Wayne Belger joined the Bolles staff in 1989 and began his coaching career in 1977. Belger has been instrumental in helping lead the Bulldogs to seven state championships. Belger currently directs the Bulldogs' offense. Prior to Bolles, Belger coached football at his alma mater, Robert E. Lee High School.
While a student at Lee, Belger played quarterback on the first Generals football squad coached by Corky Rogers. Belger then attended Gardner-Webb College (now University), graduating with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education.
He and his wife, Linda, have two sons, Matthew '00 and Mitchell '03. Both Matthew and Mitchell played football at Bolles, with Matthew a member of the 1998 state championship team and Mitchell a member of the Bulldogs' 2002 state championship squad. Matthew played football at Wofford College. Mitchell attended the United States Air Force Academy and played on the Falcons' football squad until suffering a knee injury.
Mike Barrett
Assistant Coach
Mike Barrett has served as defensive coordinator on the Bolles football coaching staff since 1975, helping the Bulldogs to all eight of the program's state titles, two state runner-up finishes, nine sectional championships, 10 regional championships and 27 district championships. Barrett has also served as the head coach of the Bolles weightlifting team.
In 1984 and 1985, Barrett became of part of the Jacksonville Bulls' of the United States Football League, serving as strength coach and assistant linebacker coach.
Barrett came to Bolles after coaching in Cincinnati for five years. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in physical education and started for three years as a linebacker on the Bearcats' football team. As a senior, Barrett earned Cincinnati's Brig Owens Award as the team's most outstanding defensive back. Barrett also earned a master's degree in guidance.
Barrett attended Maynard High School in Massachusetts , where he played running back, linebacker, and kicker on the football team as well as forward on the basketball team and catcher on the school's baseball team. His son Kevin is a 1991 graduate of Bolles and was a member of the Bulldogs' 1990 state title squad. Kevin went on to play football at Brown University and is currently working as a neurologist in Jacksonville.
John Newman '86
Assistant Coach
John Newman '86, who played both running back and defensive back for Bolles, continues to demonstrate his commitment to the Bolles tradition. Since joining the School staff in 1993, he has worked with the middle school, junior varsity, and varsity football programs. Newman has served on the varsity football coaching staff of six state championship teams. He also led the 2002 Bolles baseball squad to a state title. Newman serves as the upper school dean of students.
Newman is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's degree in human and organizational development. He played running back and punt return specialist for the Commodores football squad. Newman also earned a master's degree in education and health promotions from Vanderbilt.
John and his wife Kathy '86, a Lower School Whitehurst Campus faculty member, have three children at Bolles, Taylor '11, Shaye '13, and Bryce '16.
Rich Thomann
Assistant Coach
Rich Thomann joined the Bolles football coaching staff in 1998 and has been a part of four of the Bulldogs' state championship titles, coaching the linebackers. Thomann's coaching experience also includes the Canadian Football League and at the collegiate level.
Thomann played collegiate football for one of the most storied programs in history, starting 21 straight games as an outside linebacker for Notre Dame. As a senior, Thomann was selected to play in the North versus South College All-Star game. He earned a bachelor of business administration in management from Notre Dame. Thomann played football professionally with the Jacksonville Sharks and Jacksonville Express.
Thomann played guard and linebacker for the Archbishop Hoban High School football team in Akron, Ohio, and was named to the school's Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Linda, have three daughters: Kaley, Shawn, and Erin.
John Howard
Assistant Coach
John Howard joined the Bolles staff in 1990, serving as a member of the upper school social studies faculty, a 10th grade advisor, and a defensive coach with the Bulldogs' football squad.
Howard has also served as an assistant baseball coach at Jacksonville University. He has an additional 16 years of high school football coaching experience including positions at Episcopal, Ed White, and in Pendleton, South Carolina.
Howard played quarterback, running back, and defensive back at Dreher High School in Columbia, South Carolina, and attended Wofford College where he played quarterback and defensive back. Howard earned a bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in history from Wofford.
Howard has three children, Kelly, Hillary, and Johnny, and four grandchildren.
Rodney Drabek
Assistant Coach
Rodney Drabek has served on the Bolles staff since 1998, assisting with running backs and receivers, and helping the Bulldogs to four of the program's state titles. He also serves as the School's director of transportation and as an assistant coach with the girls' softball team.
Prior to Bolles, Drabek worked at his alma mater, Allen D. Nease High School, assisting with the Panthers' football and baseball programs for ten seasons. He also coached at Mandarin High School for one year. As a student at Nease, Drabek played quarterback and defensive back.
He and his wife, Sherry, have three daughters, Theresa '04, Stephanie and Brittany.
David Skinner '77
Assistant Coach
David Skinner '77 has served on the Bolles football staff for over a decade. A Jacksonville native and former Bolles quarterback himself, Skinner lettered in four sports during his Bolles career: football, baseball, basketball, and track. He went on to attend Vanderbilt University where he was a member of the Commodores' football team for two years and baseball team for three, earning a bachelor of engineering in civil engineering.
He and his wife, Kim, have five children: Ashley '04, Davis '09, Amy Katherine '12, Hampton, and Reese.
Allan Leavitt
Assistant Coach
Allan Leavitt joined the Bolles football staff in 2003, providing considerable expertise to the kicking game. A fourth-round draft pick on the Atlanta Falcons in 1977, Leavitt played three seasons in the NFL, also with the Giants and Buccaneers. He was a four-year letter winner at the University of Georgia, earning All-America and All-Southeastern Conference honors as a senior. Leavitt currently is tied for second in the UGA record book for most field goals over 50 yards in a career (6), second in career point-after attempts (PAT) made with 125, and ties with several Bulldog kickers at the top of the PAT percentage list going perfect in the 1973 and 1975 seasons. He also is tied for third on the Bulldogs' longest field goal list with a 58-yarder versus Vanderbilt in 1976.
Prior to Georgia, Leavitt attended Hernando High School in Brookesville, Florida.
He and his wife, Gail, have two sons: Caleb '01, a kicker as well during his Bolles career, and Gabe.
Mike Grissom
Assistant Coach
Mike Grissom joined the Bolles football staff in 2003, assisting on the defensive side of the ball. Grissom earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from the University of Central Florida. He served as team captain while playing on the Golden Knights' football squad. Grissom went on to serve as a graduate assistant coach at UCF in 1990 and then defensive line coach in 1991. Grissom attended high school at Wolfson, playing linebacker on the Wolfpack football team.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children: Grace, Gabrielle, and Grant.
Storm Davis
Assistant Coach
Storm Davis returned to coaching football and baseball at Bolles in the 2006-07 school year after serving as head baseball coach from 1997-2001, an assistant baseball coach from 1995-96, and an assistant football coach. He has also served as head baseball coach and an assistant football coach at Trinity Christian and most recently served as an assistant football and baseball coach at Bartram Trail High School.
Davis' baseball resume includes 13 years in the major leagues as a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles (1982-86 and 1992), San Diego Padres (1987), Oakland Athletics (1987-89 and 1993), Kansas City Royals (1990-91), and Detroit Tigers (1993-94).
He was a member of two World Series Championship teams, in 1983 with the Orioles and 1989 with the Athletics. He also played in the 1988 World Series as a member of the Athletics.
A Jacksonville native, Davis is a graduate of University Christian School. He and his wife, Angie, have five children: daughters Erin and Stephanie and sons Zach, Caleb, and Justin.
Kevin Fagan
Assistant Coach
Kevin Fagan returned to Bolles in the spring of 2007, having served on the School staff from 1991-93 and coaching football and wrestling. In addition to his coaching duties, Fagan serves as driver education instructor at Bolles.
Prior to returning to Bolles, Fagan worked in pharmaceutical and medical sales recruitment for The BioPointe Consulting Group.
From 1993-2005, Fagan served on the Nease High School staff, coaching football, wrestling, baseball, and golf. In his three seasons as head baseball coach, he guided the Panthers to two district titles.
Fagan is a graduate of the University of North Florida. A Jacksonville native, he attended Forrest High School where he participated in football, wrestling, and baseball.
Fagan and his wife, Jennie, have two sons: Cody and K.J.
Paul Grissom
Assistant CoachPaul Grissom joined the Bolles football staff in 2005 and coaches the defensive line. Grissom played linebacker on the University of Central Florida football squad after playing the same position on the Wolfson High School football team.