(by Don Meador, Sports Information Director)
A familiar face has been tabbed as the new softball coach at Allen County-Scottsville High School. Brad Bonds---current Patriot basketball coach and the Lady Patriot softball coach from 2004 to 2007---was introduced Friday as the coach of the prestigious program.
“I have always loved the game of softball,” Bonds said. “Earlier in my coaching career I made the move to give up softball and focus only on basketball, however the love for the game never left me. I have continued to coach softball in the travel ball circuits and have always thought I would like to get back on the hill at AC-S if the opportunity presented itself. I do have a young daughter that loves the game so therefore I do have some invested interest, but my love for Patriot athletics goes way beyond that and I just want to be a part of this program again in hopes that my staff and I can mold softball players who know how to win. Being a part of any sport in this school is special. I love my school, community, and all the sports within. This program has had some amazing seasons, with some very talented players and being able to say that I am once again a part of that is such an honor.”
Coach Bonds graduated from Allen County-Scottsville High School in 1994 and Campbellsville University in 1998. Bonds coached basketball and softball for five years (1998-2003) in Barren County before returning home.
As head coach at Barren County for two seasons (2002-03), Bonds guided the Trojanettes to a 30-25 record. After his teaching career brought him back to AC-S, Bonds succeeded Rick Roberts as head coach of the softball program in 2004.
Bonds’ first team in the spring of 2005 posted an impressive 34-10 worksheet, including a 13-1 record against Region 4 teams. The Lady Patriots claimed the Region 4 title and played their way to fifth in the KHSAA state softball tournament. Bonds’ coached two first team Class 2A First Team All-State players (Jamie Ogles and Amber Shrum) and Third-Team All-State selection Megan Williams.
In 2006, Bonds guided AC-S to a 31-8-1 record. The Lady Patriots were 13-2 against Region 4 competition and finished the season as Region 4 runner-up. The team was led by Class 2A Player-of-the-Year Jamie Ogles and Williams, again a Third-Team Class 2A selection.
The following season, Bonds and his coaching staff were named the Class 2A Coaching Staff-of-the Year after leading AC-S to a 32-6 record. The Lady Patriots were 15-1 in regional play with their only regional loss coming to Greenwood in the Region 4 championship game. Bonds also coached Class 2A First Team All-State selection Maleigh Cornwell and Honorable Mention selection Emma Napier.
After posting a 97-24-1 record as coach of the Lady Patriot softball program and going 127-49-1 in five years as a head coach, Bonds turned his attention to girls basketball.
Courtside Bonds guided the Lady Patriot basketball program to nine winning seasons in 11 years. In 2009, AC-S posted a 21-10 record---a season highlighted by AC-S’s return to the regional tournament for the first time since 2001. Bonds led the Lady Patriots to a 109-19 record from 2013 to 2016. The highlight was 2015 when AC-S captured the Region 4 title for the first time since 2001 and advanced to the championship game of the Houchens Industries/KHSAA state tournament. Bonds was named the Region 4 Coach-of-the-Year in 2013, 2014, and 2016. After 11 seasons with the Lady Patriots, Bonds stepped aside in May of 2018 with a career girls record of 222-113.
His decision to lead the girls in 2018 was due to the opportunity to transition to the Patriot basketball program and rebuild the struggling program. Bonds quickly turned the program around, guiding AC-S to an impressive 23-9 record in 2019. The turnaround earned Bonds Coach of the Year honors. This past season, the Patriots were 15-16 and made their second consecutive appearance in the Region 4 tournament.
Bonds will serve as coach of the Patriots for the 20-21 basketball season before stepping aside at the end of the year to give softball his full attention. But first, there is a basketball season to complete.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity coaching boys basketball and these young men have put it all on the line every single day to get better and I commend them for making the sacrifices to help put Patriot basketball back on the map again,” Bonds explained. “However, at this time, I feel that my duties in Patriot Gym have come to an end as I will be stepping down at the end of this upcoming season. I promise I will continue to work as hard my final season as I ever have and want nothing more than one more opportunity at a regional championship. I feel very confident that this tradition is back solid and will continue as they are an amazing group of young men first that can achieve anything athletically second.”
The new coach will be challenged to rebuild the tradition-rich program. Since the inception of fast pitch in the mid-1990s, AC-S has claimed six Region 4 titles (2000, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2011) and 19 District 15 championships. The 2011 team captured the ultimate prize by winning the KHSAA State tournament under the leadership of coach Rick Roberts and behind the pitching of 2012 Miss Softball Kelsi Pardue.
In eight seasons since the 2011 state title, the Lady Patriots have captured five District titles, reached the region championship game twice (2012, 2014) and has five 20-plus-win seasons under coaches Rick Roberts, Kerry Harwood, Ernie Stafford, and Robert Bunton. However, AC-S last season on the diamond (2019) witnessed the Lady Patriots post a 12-24-1 record---their first losing season since 1996. Still, the team was able to reach the Region 4 tournament for a 23rd consecutive season.
Bonds inherits a team eager to return to the diamond after COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 season. The squad is expected to be young overall but have a roster filled with players who were able to sharpen their skills in travel ball this summer and middle school action this fall.
“I know graduation and COVID-19 hit this team hard the last two years but I do feel there are some really solid pieces that we can build around,’ Bonds added. “Obviously, I need to evaluate all players to get a better feel and hopefully the guidelines from KHSAA will allow us to start that soon.”
To his softball players, Bonds says that he is committed to fielding a team that is fundamentally sound in all phases of the game.
“You will not find anyone that is going to work any harder at what they do than I do,” Bonds said. “I am an extremely passionate coach that focuses on the fundamentals and intangibles of the game first then let the other things fall in line. We will be a team that is disciplined in many parts of the game where bunting and base running will be a daily focus. I am a defensive guy that will focus on making plays that are given to you. I will place together a staff that will work together, be on the same page, and work the trenches together helping our softball players get better daily.”
AC-S enters their 26th season of competition with an overall record of 645-276-5. The Lady Patriot program is currently sixth overall on the Kentucky all-time wins list for fast-pitch softball.