Blue Mountain Softball Coach Mike Rollman Dies Unexpectedly at 37

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Mike Rollman, the beloved head coach of the Blue Mountain Softball team, passed away unexpectedly early Sunday morning at the age of 37. His untimely death comes just a month before the start of the 2024 softball season, marking a significant loss for the team and the community.

Many players are still coming to terms with the news. Sophomore Addyson Fishburn expressed the profound impact Rollman had on her life and the lives of his players. “I just want everyone to know the impact that he had on my life, and all of our lives,” Fishburn said. “I would not be who I am today without him.”

Freshman Emily Leonard shared the emotional difficulty of losing their coach. “It’s been really, really hard, but I’m trying, and it’s good to have the support of the team because we all loved him so much,” said Leonard. “It really shows the impact that he left on everyone.”

In his tenure, Coach Rollman led the team to two consecutive state championship titles, instilling a belief in victory among his players. Junior Hailey Place recalled Rollman’s steadfast confidence, saying, “He told me that ‘we’re going to be back next year and I’m going to be back with them,’ and he always knew.”

Chloe Brown, a senior on the team, elaborated on Rollman’s confidence. “He expected us to win both times, and he was just proud to see all of our work pay off,” Brown said. “I don’t think he was as shocked as we all are.”

Rollman’s influence extended beyond just tactics and victories; he was a mentor who offered guidance during personal struggles. Senior Courtney Cavadini shared, “I lost my dad at a very young age, and he also lost his father young, so he helped me throughout my high school career…because he understood exactly what I went through.”

Paul Leonard, the assistant coach, reflected on Rollman’s philosophy of family within the team. “Mike was big on family; we put it on all our gear, and he always said, ‘If anybody doesn’t know what family means, it means Forget About Me, I Love You,’ and he coached by that, and he lived by that,” Leonard stated.

The Blue Mountain Softball community now faces the challenge of moving forward without their leader, grappling with the loss of a coach who dedicated his life to fostering talent, resilience, and unity among his players.