Bullard makes big baseball promotion, naming Buchanan legend Tom Donald as head coach
Tom Donald, who led Buchanan to six Central Section championships and nearly 500 wins, is the new coach of the Bullard High baseball program, the school announced Saturday.
Donald was an assistant at Bullard during a coronavirus-shortened 2020 season. His promotion to head coach comes after Aaron Weimer decided to step away to pursue his teaching credential.
Weimer led the Knights the past two seasons; the school said he will remain on the coaching staff.
Donald, 57, resigned at Buchanan in May 2019 after he initially said he was stepping away from the storied program at least on a short-term basis. At the time, he indicated personal and professional obligations had become too much.
“It’s too many irons in the fire,” he told The Bee last year. “I think stepping away initially is an attempt to clear the air a little bit. Now that air is cleared somewhat, but more work needs to be done.”
In 20 seasons as Bears coach, he compiled a 485-135-6 record that included six CIF Central Section and 10 Tri-River Athletic Conference titles and two national championships, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
His teams were section runners-up five times and he’s eighth in the section in career victories.
Bullard has one of the region’s top resumes as well, with seven section and three national championships.
Assistants Mike Noakes and Bobby Waits also will remain on the Knights’ coaching staff.
This story was originally published June 20, 2020 at 4:57 PM.
