NEWS

 

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson College community is mourning the loss of former scholar-athlete, men’s basketball coach and Director of Athletics, Terry Holland ’64, who passed away Sunday in Charlottesville, Va.. He was 80 years old.

Lefty Driesell’s first freshman recruit, Holland played for the Wildcats from 1961-1964. A blue-chip player from Clinton, N.C., Holland concluded his standout career ranked among Davidson’s Top-5 in scoring and rebounding.

During his senior year, he led the ‘Cats to a 22-4 overall record and Davidson’s first-ever Top-10 National Ranking.

After serving as an assistant coach (1964-69) for the Wildcats following graduation, Holland succeeded Lefty as head coach, compiling a record of 92-43 over five years and earning Southern Conference Coach of the Year three times.

Following two postseason appearances as the Wildcats’ head coach, including a berth in the 1970 NCAA Tournament, he took over at the University of Virginia where he compiled a record of 326-173 over 16 years. In addition, he took the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament eight times, reaching the Final Four twice, and the NIT four times, winning the championship once. He was named ACC Coach of the Year twice, in 1981 and 1982.

In 1990, Holland returned to his alma mater to become the athletic director, a position he would hold from 1990-94.

As athletic director, Holland was a leader with credibility, integrity, and vision. He worked hard to gain re-entry into the Southern Conference, to attract the NCAA Soccer Championship to Davidson, and to provide a broad program for men and women scholar-athletes.

At his departure in June 1995, the Davidson athletic program of 21 varsity teams had become an exemplar of his personal ideals, and a model for many other educational institutions.

Holland later served as the Director of Athletics at Virginia (1994-2001) and East Carolina University (2004-13).

In January 2022, Davidson College and the Department of Athletics honored Holland along with former head coach Lefty Driesell, with a jersey retirement ceremony.

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“Terry Holland was one of Davidson’s treasures. As a student-athlete, as a coach, as an administrator, as an alum, he set a standard of excellence that was built upon a foundation of honor and integrity. His life as a husband, father, grandfather and friend reflected these virtues to all who had the fortune to know him. He was a man of grace and dignity and became a hero to me. I, we, all of us are better because Terry Holland touched us.”

– Bob McKillop, Former Davidson Head Coach

“Terry’s incredible legacy as a scholar-athlete, coach and Director of Athletics is only surpassed by the fact that he was such a wonderful human being. He was a man of excellence and integrity who embodied the leadership and service we strive for every day. Davidson Athletics and Davidson College are better because of Terry Holland. Our thoughts, our prayers and our gratitude are with Ann and the family.”

– Chris Clunie, Davidson Director of Athletics