HS Softball: Blue Mountain chooses Leonard as varsity head coach

Paul Leonard, left, and Mike Rollman chat during a game. After Rollman's sudden passing earlier this month, the Blue Mountain School Board has officially named Leonard as Rollman's successor as head coach.(Submitted Photo)
ORWIGSBURG — Mike Rollman’s untimely passing left a huge void in the Blue Mountain softball program.
Rollman, head coach of the two-time defending PIAA Class 4A state softball champion Eagles, suddenly passed away Feb. 9. The Landingville resident was 37.
With the softball season fast approaching — the offseason program has been in full swing and the first official practice date is March 3 — the Blue Mountain Athletic Department and Athletic Director Doug Morgan didn’t have much time to figure out what to do next.
For Morgan and the Eagles, the logical choice manned the first-base coaching box as Rollman’s right-hand man for the past five seasons.
The Blue Mountain School Board agreed. At Thursday’s meeting, the board officially approved the hiring of Paul Leonard as the Eagles’ next head softball coach. The vote was unanimous.
“The first time I’m standing in the third-base coaches box giving signs will be a little emotional,” Leonard said, referring to where Rollman coached during games.
“I can’t fill Mike Rollman’s shoes,” he added. “We’ll take what we learned and believe in and keep building on that foundation.”
Rollman built a foundation that could withstand an earthquake.
In six seasons (including the missed 2020 season due to COVID 19), Rollman’s teams compiled a 101-22 record, an .821 winning percentage. Under his guidance, the Eagles captured three Schuylkill League Division I championships, two Schuylkill League playoff championships, three District 11 titles and the last two PIAA Class 4A state championships.
In his last game, Rollman led Blue Mountain to a 4-0 victory over Elizabeth Forward in the state title game last June.
Leonard has been with Rollman as part of a staff that turned the Eagles from a good team into a state power.
