Softball
Tom Collins
Head Coach
Tom Collins became head coach of the Bolles varsity softball team in 2003. Collins has been a part of the Bolles' family for over a decade and a half, wearing many hats. In addition to coaching varsity softball, he currently is Middle School Bartram Campus dean of students and serves as the middle school football and basketball coach.
Collins guided the 2007 squad to a 15-8 record. In 2006, along with coaches Rodney Drabek and Howard Wood, Collins guided the softball squad to a district runner-up finish and a trip to the regional quarterfinals.
Collins' wife, Dawn, teaches fifth grade on the Lower School Whitehurst Campus, and they share responsibility as directors of Bolles Summer Day Camp. His oldest daughter, Catie Collins Grimes '96, is also a part of the Bolles' family as she teaches fourth grade on the Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus. His daughter Joni '98 is a Physician Assistant and son, Kip '05, attends the University of Florida. Tom is very proud of the fact that all of their children graduated from The Bolles School.
Being involved in coaching Bolles student-athletes is part of what he describes as “Life is Good”! The highlight of Collins' life is his two grandsons, Gentry and Sterling. He looks forward to the day they become Bolles Bulldogs as well.
Rodger Murray
Assistant Coach
Rodger “Papa” Murray joined the Bolles softball coaching staff in 2008. Murray has coached little league and recreational softball for the past ten years. He has coached girls' youth basketball as well.
Murray is a retired clergyman with 30 years experience in social and health services. He and his wife Doris have been married 50 years and have two granddaughters at Bolles: Madeline '11 and Amanda '10 Schroeder.
Alan Ponder
Assistant Coach
Alan Ponder joined the Bolles softball staff in 2008. He coached youth baseball for 10 years with local recreational and travel teams while serving as baseball director for his community athletic association. During the last four years, Ponder has been a coach with the Jacksonville Streamline Organization. These advanced travel softball teams have competed in, and won, many tournaments throughout the southeast. The teams are now playing in tournaments to showcase their talents to college coaches throughout the region.
Alan and his wife, Terri, have two daughters: Jessi, a member of Bolles Class of 2011, and Regan who just turned three.