Varsity Coaches

Perry High School is pleased to announce Mr. Abhishek Tomar as the new head badminton coach. 2025-26 will be Coach Tomar's first year as a head badminton coach.

Coach Abhishek Tomar began playing badminton at the age of 8 and started competing professionally at the age of 11. During his school career in India, he earned several titles, including winning the Regional School Championships consistently from 2012 to 2016, and securing first place in the State High School Boys U19 Championship in 2014. He also achieved third place in both singles and doubles at the National School Badminton League in 2014 and received his high school's prestigious Sports Color of the Year award for 2015-2016, serving as captain of his school's badminton team.

Professionally, Coach Tomar represented Delhi State at the National Championships each year from 2013 through 2016. His accomplishments include second place at the Regional Boys Singles Under-17 tournament in 2013, second place at the State-level Boys Singles Under-17 in 2015, and third place finishes in both singles and doubles at the State level in 2013. Recently, in the U.S., Coach Tomar placed 3rd in singles at the 65th Dave Freeman Open Badminton Championship (2023) and secured 1st place at the 66th Dave Freeman Open (2024) held in San Diego. Coach Tomar started coaching at age 15 at a professional badminton club and has conducted summer and winter training camps in schools in India.

Since moving to Arizona, he coaches at the Arizona Badminton Center, working with athletes across all age groups. He joined Perry High School as an assistant coach in August 2023, supporting the varsity, junior varsity, and exhibition teams. Coach Tomar is passionate about developing skilled, disciplined, and enthusiastic badminton players.

“My goal is to share the joy and passion badminton has given me with as many people as possible. I’m grateful to Perry High School for giving me this wonderful opportunity to mentor young athletes and contribute to their growth both on and off the court.”

Coach Tomar can be reached at Tomar.Abhishek@cusd80.com.

Perry High School is pleased to announce Mr. Justin Collard as the new head boys basketball coach and physical education teacher. 2025-26 will be his 10th season as a varsity head coach.

Coach Collard comes to Perry from Boulder Creek High School, where he helped transform the Jaguars into a consistent power in Arizona’s largest classification. In 2019, his first year, Boulder Creek was picked to finish last in the region but defied expectations by earning a playoff berth and handing the #1-ranked team its only loss of the season. In the years since, the Jaguars have become a fixture in the state playoffs, reaching the 6A Final Four in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and advancing to the Elite Eight of the Open Division in 2025. Under his leadership, Boulder Creek has captured back-to-back Desert Valley Region championships in 2024 and 2025, earning Coach Collard Region Coach of the Year honors both seasons.

Prior to his time in Arizona, Coach Collard launched his head coaching career at Cooper High School in Texas in 2015. There, he steadily built a struggling program into a regional threat, doubling the team’s win total for three consecutive seasons.

Throughout his career, Collard has helped numerous players go on to compete at the collegiate level, and he continues to take pride in watching their journeys unfold. His teams are widely recognized for their toughness, relentless pace of play, and a premium placed on shooting and spacing. Among his team’s notable accomplishments: Paris (TX) Holiday Tournament and Nike TOC Champions, and the Tarkanian Classic Runners Up.

Originally from Paris, TX, Collard played college basketball at Paris Junior College and later at MidAmerica Nazarene University. He earned his master’s degree in Secondary Education, holds Level 2 coaching certifications through the NFHS, and is USA Basketball Certified.

Off the court, Collard is a proud husband and father, which he believes is his most important job. He met his wife Ashley in Kansas, and they’ve been together since 2012. The couple have two children: a daughter, Remi, and a son, Nash. His coaching philosophy centers on daily improvement and lifelong relationships, guided by the belief that “the journey is greater than the destination.” 

Coach Collard will begin meeting with student-athletes, coaching staff, and community members in the upcoming weeks to discuss his vision for the program, including skill development, leadership training, and cultivating a winning culture built on character. He emphasizes that player development and personal growth go hand in hand, and his daily mission is to build better people through basketball.

Coach Collard can be reached at Collard.Justin@cusd80.com. 

Perry High School and Chandler Unified School District are pleased to announce that Mr. Darren Fenn has been named the new head coach of the girls basketball program for the 2025–2026 school year, pending board approval. 

A native of Buffalo, NY, Coach Fenn was a standout athlete at Canisius High School, where he earned Western New York Player of the Year honors and was later inducted into the CHS Hall of Fame. He continued his career at the NCAA Division I level, playing at Canisius University, where he graduated ranked 8th all-time in scoring and 2nd in rebounding.

Following college, Fenn embarked on a successful 14-year professional career across Europe and Asia. His career highlights include winning the 2004 Russian Cup with Ural Great Perm, the 2007 German Championship with Bamberg Baskets, and being named a BBL All-Star for seven consecutive seasons. He also played one season in the prestigious Euroleague.

After retiring in 2015, Fenn founded WNY Premier Basketball Training—now known as XGEN Elite—in West Seneca, New York. He went on to coach at the Nichols School and St. Mary’s, and he notably trained NBA player Jordan Nwora in preparation for the 2021 NBA Draft. Under his leadership, the XGEN Elite girls program has achieved national success, including a Hoop Group League title, and participation in both the Elite 40 and Select 40 circuits. His current 17U Team Northeast squad is the top seed in the highly competitive Power 24 league. Many of his athletes have gone on to earn college scholarships at top-tier programs across the country.

Coach Fenn and his family relocated from Buffalo to Mesa, Arizona in the summer of 2021. He and his wife, Kimberly, have been married for 22 years and have shared a global basketball journey. Their daughter, Sydney, starred at AZ Compass Prep and now plays for the Indiana Hoosiers. Their middle child, Alexis, is currently a junior at Perry, and their youngest, DJ, is starting kindergarten.

Coach Fenn is honored to join the Perry Puma family and is excited to build on the school’s rich tradition of basketball excellence. He can be reached at Fenn. Darren@cusd80.com.