Coaches
Elise Bush
Head Coach
Elise Bush joined the staff at Bolles in 1984 and became the varsity girls' volleyball head coach in 1986. Bush began her Bolles career as a physical education teacher and has served as assistant athletic director and a ninth grade advisor since 2000. In her time at the School, she has also served as an assistant dean and coached basketball and softball.
Bush's career record as Bolles' volleyball coach is 514-205 through the 2007 season, guiding the program to a state title in 1989 as well five state runners-up finishes, 15 state Final Four appearances, and 18 district titles.
Bush graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's degree in education. She began her college education at Anderson College in South Carolina, where she played on the basketball and tennis teams for two years. She also attended Florida State University for a year and a half, but transferred to UNF for her senior year in order to coach the Bolles varsity girls' basketball team.
A graduate of Fletcher High School, Bush played volleyball, basketball, and softball at the school. She was a member of Fletcher's 1976 state championship basketball team.
Debbie Caruso
Varsity Assistant Coach/JV Head Coach
Since coming to Bolles in 1984, Debbie Caruso has served as a physical education instructor and has coached volleyball, basketball, track, and golf at various levels. She became the junior varsity girls' volleyball head coach as well as a varsity assistant in 1989. She also works as an eighth grade advisor. Prior to Bolles, Caruso taught for two years at St. Agnes School in St. Augustine.
Caruso has helped guide the varsity girls' volleyball team to a state title in 1989, five state runner-up finishes, 15 state Final Four appearances, and 18 district titles.
Caruso attended State University College of Cortland (New York) and was a member of the school's basketball and golf teams. She transferred to Flagler College and played for the Saints' basketball squad while completing her bachelor's degree. She also earned a master's degree from Nova University.
Caruso graduated from Notre Dame High School in Elmira, New York, where she played volleyball, basketball, and participated in track. She was a member of the basketball state championship team in 1977 and was also the bowling state champion in 1975 and 1976. She is a member of the Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame, Elmira Sports Hall of Fame, and was named Elmira Female Athlete of the Decade.
She married Phil Caruso in June of 2004 and has a stepson, P.J.
Allison Denmark
Assistant Coach
Allison Denmark joined the Bolles staff in 1995 and currently serves as a sophomore advisor and director of internal testing. She previously worked with the boarding programs on both the Bartram and San Jose Campuses.
During her time as an assistant with the varsity girls' volleyball team, Denmark has helped the program win 10 district titles, make 10 state Final Four appearances, and three state runner-up finishes. Prior to Bolles, Denmark coached the Florida Community College at Jacksonville volleyball squad for six years.
A graduate of Oral Roberts University, Denmark was a member of the school's volleyball team. She earned a degree in health, physical education, and recreation from ORU.
A native of Woodstock, Ontario, Denmark attended high school at Woodstock Collegiate Institute. She participated in volleyball, basketball, and track and field throughout her high school career.
Her husband Matt is athletic director and an advisor on the Bartram Campus as well as an assistant coach with the upper school varsity baseball program. Their children Caleb '10 and Abby '12 both attend Bolles.
Daphne Vagenas
Assistant Coach
Daphne Vagenas came to Bolles in 2000 and serves as a college counselor and 12th grade advisor. She has assisted with the varsity and junior varsity girls' volleyball team since 2004.
Vagenas earned both a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of South Carolina. She attended Bishop England High School in Charleston, South Carolina, and played volleyball as a junior and senior. Her high school alma mater was ranked as the top athletic program in the state by Sports Illustrated in the same 2005 article that ranked Bolles as the ninth program in the country.
Amy Imfeld ’98
Assistant Coach
Amy Imfeld '98 returned to teach at her alma mater in 2005 and joined the volleyball staff in 2006. In addition to assisting with the high school program, Imfeld became head coach of the middle school squad in 2007. She teaches French and Spanish on the Ponte Vedra Beach and Whitehurst Lower School campuses.
Imfeld graduated from Wofford College, earning bachelor's degrees in French and finance. She earned membership into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society during her undergraduate career. Imfeld is currently pursuing a master's degree in elementary education from Jacksonville University.
During her Bolles career, Imfeld was a four-year member of the varsity volleyball team, helping the squad to the Final Four twice. She also played one season on the varsity softball team.
Imfeld's twin sister, Jeni Imfeld Strain, is also a Bolles graduate. Their mother, Carol, has been a member of the Bolles staff since 1984 and currently serves as principal on the Whitehurst Campus.