Coach Aaron Ponder is a Berea native and has spent his whole life in the area. He is married to Lauren Ponder, a teacher at Shannon Johnson Elementary, and they have two children, Sadie Bee (2) and Henry Wade (1). Coach Ponder is also in the school system and works at Madison Southern High, where he played basketball before beginning his collegiate career here at Berea College.
For the past four seasons, Coach Ponder has served as a Varsity Assistant Coach at Madison Southern High School. With Head Coach Austin Newton, Coach Ponder was a part of multiple historic seasons, capping their run off with the school’s first ever 11th Region Tournament win. Coach Ponder also served two years as the Head Freshman Coach during his four-year tenure at Madison Southern, where one of his teams was able to advance to the semifinals in the 11th Region Freshman Tournament.
Prior to his work at the high school level, Coach Ponder was the Head Coach at Farristown Middle School for two years where he was a part of the school’s first ever Conference Championship Team. This came directly after completing four years at Berea College where he earned his teaching degree and was elected Team Captain for his junior and senior seasons on the Men’s Basketball Team.
Coach Ponder is excited to be back at Berea College and to continue influencing student-athletes in a positive way!
