​Islands baseball coach Brandon Collins stepped down at the end of the season after eight years at the helm of the Sharks, and Lamar County assistant Tim Jones has been hired to lead the program in the next chapter. Collins explained that he accepted a job with his family, making the decision to depart a difficult but necessary one for the sake of his loved ones. He expressed pride in what he accomplished with the Sharks and gratitude for the players, their families, and the Island community, noting that stepping away was bittersweet.
This season, Collins reached a milestone, recording his 100th career win when senior Dylan Stewart tossed a three-inning perfect game against Portal on March 28. Collins’ journey to the Islands bench began with a standout high school career as a catcher at Calvary Day, followed by college baseball stops at South Georgia and the University of South Carolina at Beaufort. He also notes that his father, Marty Collins, served as an assistant coach during his tenure, adding a family dimension to the program’s history.
Collins had previously served as an assistant coach at Calvary Day and Benedictine before taking the Islands job. He explained that the family-owned business opportunity compelled him to move on, saying, “I was offered a position in a family business that I couldn’t turn down. I had to take it because it was the best thing for my family. I loved coaching the baseball team at Islands, so it was bittersweet to have to step away. I loved my players, their families and all the people I worked with at Islands. But it was time for me to spend more time with my family.”
Tim Jones will take over the program next season. Jones has spent the last eight years as an assistant coach at Lamar County High School after previously serving an eight-year stint as an assistant at Gordon State College. Presently, he is 41 years old and began his playing days as a catcher for St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before continuing his career at Piedmont College. Jones described the new role as a dream job for him and his family, noting that the Islands atmosphere had a lasting appeal. “I came here to play Islands as a softball coach, and there was something about the place that hit me,” he said. “I think the area is a hotbed for baseball talent, and there’s something special about it. Coach Collins has done a great job establishing a successful program, and we want to carry on that tradition.”
Jones added that he is eager to begin work at Islands and to continue the Sharks’ growth and success. He credited Collins with building a strong foundation and expressed his intent to maintain and enhance the program’s legacy while fostering a positive environment for student-athletes. As the program transitions to new leadership, island baseball fans can anticipate continuity in a culture of hard work, teamwork, and competitive play, anchored by the shared goal of sustained success on the field and strong mentorship off it.
For more updates and coverage of this transition, you can follow Dennis Knight, who covers sports for the Savannah Morning News, at Dknight@savannahnow.com or on Twitter at @DennisKnightSMN. This article originally appeared in the Savannah Morning News, highlighting the shift in leadership as Tim Jones steps into the role of Islands baseball coach.