Terry Holland Tribute Captures Impact, Influence Of Virginia Legend

The Terry Holland Tribute on Saturday at the John Paul Jones Arena filled the building with stories as expected, but in the end, the day – and the life of Terry Holland – was about so much more than basketball and fishing tales. For a man with little ego that never focused on ‘I’ during his career, the day turned out to be about that letter more than any other. Influence. Impact.

Players, coaches, colleagues, and other speakers spoke about those two words with a capital I more than any other. And they did so with a reverence and respect reserved for a man called a gentleman and a scholar, but most often called Coach.

Holland, who passed away in February at age 80 after a being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, spent more than 40 years in athletics at Davidson, the University of Virginia, and East Carolina and people from each stop shared their memories in a fitting tribute that covered his entire career.

“I’ve spent 20 years in medicine, and I feel pretty comfortable with human anatomy, but for the life of me, I cannot figure out how our dad managed to give such enormous yet equal parts of his heart to so many people. … All of you here felt that incredibly special way that only Coach was able to provide. From that normal-sized human heart that had superhuman capabilities, you never guessed where you stood with Coach because he never missed an opportunity to say I loved you,” daughter Ann-Michael Holland said.

That sentiment rang crystal clear throughout the ceremony.

From his time at Davidson as a player, coach, and athletics director, speakers spoke of a quiet, graceful, and competitive man. Former Davidson College president John Kuykendall mentioned that Holland helped bring legendary coach Bob McKillop to the school where he coached for more than 30 years and 634 victories, including the career of basketball star Steph Curry.

Jerry Kroll discussed “what an honor that was” to be recruited by Holland and told of his subtle sense of humor and leadership as well as the respect he had for his players. Kroll insisted on a standing ovation for Ann Holland, Terry’s wife of more than 50 years, as well for being by his side throughout his life. Teammate Fred Hetzel recalled a top 10 team at Davidson when during Holland’s senior year the Wildcats went 22-4 and led the nation in field goal percentage. Holland led the nation that season in individual field goal percentage as the team’s captain.

Later, Holland as Davidson’s coach, he received Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors three times. After leaving for UVA for a successful coaching career, he later returned as AD and oversaw Davidson’s return to the Southern Conference and increased fundraising for athletics. Last year, the school opened the Holland Family Performance Center, a 1,500-square foot facility exclusive to men’s and women’s basketball. The Wildcats also retired his number in 2022.

For all those accomplishments, however, Kuykendall spoke of his influence as much as anything he did. “He was engaged in other people’s lives, he was kind,” Kuykendall said. “He had a way of being modest, not egotistical at all.”

Holland’s career began at Davidson and finished at East Carolina where he created a similar list of success. He helped raise money for and build a new football practice complex and operations building, while ECU expanded Dowdy Ficklen Stadium as well. Women’s sports teams became fully funded during his tenure. East Carolina named part of its athletics facilities the Terry Holland Olympic Sports Complex, which is home to the 1,000-seat ECU Softball Stadium, the 1,000-seat Johnson Soccer Stadium, the eight-lane Bate Track Facility.

The tangible results – buildings, beating Power 5 teams in football while reaching four consecutive bowl games, and the like – were not the highlights for those that new him as Pirates. ECU Hall of Famer and record holder Carlester Crumpler said one of the turning points later in his life came from working with Holland. He described him as quiet, perhaps unassuming, and someone who just loved people. As a sounding board for Holland as East Carolina AD, Crumpler said he “didn’t take that for granted because, again, I admired him so much.” Crumpler also said Holland was a man who could make a decision and not look back on it because of his strength and confidence as a leader.

Former ECU football coaches Skip Holtz and Ruffin McNeill recalled that strong leadership as well as the compassion he brought in that role. Holtz, who is the head coach for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League and made the ceremony despite having a game Sunday, said it was an honor to be there. With a tear on his cheek, he said that he wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world because Holland meant that much to him. Holtz recalled times that Holland would come to his office the Sunday mornings after a loss with coffee and then wouldn’t say a word. He instead provided support while Holtz complained about officials, mistakes in the game, and the like. “The impact he made on me wasn’t the success on the field,” but “more as a man,” Holz said. “He made me a better husband, father, and made me a better son.”

McNeill, who finished his time with the second most wins in school history at ECU, told of how he arrived at East Carolina in the first place. He had not gotten the Texas Tech job when he thought he would, a challenging time in his life, but had accepted an assistant’s job at Stanford. When ECU called, he agreed to interview if the school was serious about his candidacy. McNeill took a prepared packet to the interview and never opened it. He noted that Coach Holland stood there and listened and appeared emotional. He later called and offered the job. McNeill noted that call made him the first African-American coach in any sport at East Carolina as an example of thinking outside the box, which many speakers praised Holland for throughout the tribute.

“He was there thick and thin for me,” McNeill said. “I wish I could have had him the entire time of my tenure there. I learned so much. … Just grace, just so smart, and outside-the-box [thinker] but also sincerity and love. I can tell the children, Miss Ann and the girls, he was one of the greatest men I’ve ever met in my life.”

Others talked about how he supported them as well. Val Ackerman, Big East Commissioner and former Cavalier women’s standout, noticed that first as an athlete at Virginia. She said Holland supported Debbie Ryan and women’s program even in those days when it wasn’t common. She recalled what it was like to be a student at UVA in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when Virginia became the center of college basketball with three-time National Player of the Year Ralph Sampson. One thing she noticed then and remembers now is the “serenity and dignity” that Holland displayed while conducting the program in that time. Later in roles with USA Basketball, she saw that leadership on display again as Holland helped keep college basketball connected to the national team as the NBA became part of the picture too. She said Holland was a “big thinker”, “wonderful colleague”, and a “steward of the game of basketball.”

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari knew Holland from the opposing chair in Conference USA meetings, but he had long admired him before then. He noted that Holland was an innovator using sports psychologist Bob Rotella in the 1980’s, long before it was the common practice like today. In fact, Calipari said he started to use Rotella in the early 1990’s at UMass because of that. More than coaching acumen and innovative thinking, though, Calipari said what stood out most was how he led and how he treated those around him.

“He was a good man,” Calipari said. “Some people climb the ladder of success and they turn around and they pick up the ladder. He climbed it as a player, as a coach, as an AD, committee member, and he climbed that same ladder and his goal was to pick up the next person, and to pick up the next person, and that’s what he did for me. … I just say to all of you how blessed were we to have him in our lives.”

Miami basketball coach Jim Larranaga echoed that last sentiment. Larranaga worked as an assistant coach for Holland at both Davidson and Virginia. The latter role pulled Larranaga out of Division II as a head coach when Holland sent a private jet to entice him to leave, Larranaga shared jokingly. Larranaga recalled the Final Four runs at Virginia, but more how the Hollands welcomed everyone as part of their own family when they were with the program. “We became a part of his family. He treated us like family,” Larranaga said. “His family, they were a major part of the team. We were all in this together. I loved every minute of it. … T, you were the greatest. I know everybody here loves you, and no one will ever forget the impact you had on all of our lives.”

Seth Greenberg, who co-moderated the tribute with Sampson, worked as an assistant coach with Larranaga on Holland’s staff for one season, which happened to be the 1984 run to the Final Four. Greenberg noted that he came to Virginia and thought he was essentially getting a Master’s Degree in coaching by working with Holland and his assistants, but he ended up with more than that. He got a life-long mentor. As he told on ESPN when Holland first passed this winter, he consulted Coach Holland on every major decision in his life. Choking back tears, Greenberg said Holland “gave me a life and perspective.”

The years for those assistants in the 1980’s were part of an impressive career in Charlottesville. Holland led UVA to 9 NCAA Tournament bids with two Final Fours, two Elite Eights, and a Sweet 16 during his 16 seasons as coach. The Hoos also won the 1976 ACC Tournament, the program’s only title in that event until 2014, and the 1980 NIT Championship. He was named ACC Coach of the Year twice. After his retirement just shy of 48 years old in 1990, he remained the program’s all-time winningest coach with 326 wins at Virginia until this past December.

As UVA AD, he helped generate the Scott Stadium expansion project and supervised facilities upgrades for swimming and diving, tennis, and more. He left his post as AD to become a special assistant to University of Virginia President John Casteen III where he was a key figure in the creation of the John Paul Jones Arena where Saturday’s tribute was held. UVA raised a banner with Terry Holland’s name on it to the JPJ rafters as part of the tribute.

Forever enshrined by Virginia! pic.twitter.com/4XiMTWzlcF

— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) May 6, 2023

Tony Bennett, who passed him on the wins list, spoke early in the tribute and said “I know he’d say keep the faith, finish the race, fight the good fight,” before he noted how grateful he was to be there to honor and celebrate Coach Holland’s life. Holland compiled many of his victories with some of the most recognizable players in school history such as Ralph Sampson, Jeff Lamp, Wally Walker, Bryant Stith, and many more. John Crotty escorted Ann Holland at the ceremony and a panel of other players shared their memories with Coach Holland.

Yes, that included some moments in games and huddles. Bryant Stith and Sampson each recalled specific play calls, while Jimmy Miller and Jeff Lamp recalled his fiery competitiveness. But beyond all of that, everyone remembered the way he impacted their lives far beyond the basketball coach. Sampson said it was better than basketball as a theme for the day.

Marc Iavaroni said Holland’s support led to him taking another shot at the NBA and making it, while crediting Holland for developing his toughness as a player. He also noted, however, how he and his wife stayed in the Holland home’s apartment when pregnant with their first child. From his time as UVA’s JV coach, Iavaroni met Kenton Edelin, who recently passed away as well. Edelin walked on to the Virginia team and meant so much that the Iavaroni’s named their first-born son after him. Iavaroni said that’s an example of the special people Holland had in the UVA program and thanked the Hollands for “making the Iavaroni family feel so special.”

Like Iavaroni, Rick Carlisle went on to play and coach in the NBA too. He transferred to Virginia when Chris Mullin decided to go to St. John’s, which placed him in a position to play for Holland. He noted that Holland “inspired so many of us in so many ways” and that he had a way of bringing people together. The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and the state saw that as he built UVA basketball, Carlisle said. He described his late coach as kind, but strong and honest, but empathetic. He created a culture of trust. And, Carlisle said he did it all unselfishly. “Terry Holland is a man – I don’t think I’ve ever met man that did so much for so many and never asked for anything in return,” Carlisle said.

Wally Walker told of how Holland changed the culture at Virginia, while remembering rough preseason conditioning. He compared the teams of his day with grit and competitive spirit to Coach Bennett’s teams now. He quoted Maya Angelou, who said people will remember how you made them feel. “We’re here because of the way you made us feel and we’ll never forget,” Walker said of Holland. Lamp said he felt at home from the moment he walked into the Hollands’ actual house on his recruiting visit. He said Holland brought out the best in him as a player, but more importantly he had him in his corner as a mentor and friend for the rest of his life. He said the Holland home was warm, caring, loving, and happy and that he came to UVA based on that feeling. “That decision was 100% heart. I followed my heart on that and thank God that I did,” Lamp said.

Jimmy Miller remembered how competitive Holland was and the passion he coached with. As someone from West Virginia, he recalled the saying to leave your campsite better than you found it. When Miller looks back, that’s what he sees. “When I think of Coach Holland, that’s what he did,” Miller said. Bryant Stith recalled his freshman preseason conditioning and specifically a three-mile run on Mondays. If players could beat Coach Holland back, they could skip a repeat run on Fridays. Stith joked how he ran every Friday. He also told of how Holland built teams and that he formed a band of brothers in his first two years at Virginia before his retirement that still remains in touch today.

Jeff Jones, the coach at Old Dominion, played for and coached with Holland. He said Holland was more competitive and fiery than people may realize, but also how he involved those around him. He wanted input from those around him. “He wanted discourse. He wanted conversations. It was amazing,” Jones said. Beyond the opportunities he provided, Jones spoke of the family Holland created. He saw Michael Jackson moonwalk for the first time in that Holland basement apartment. Collecting himself through obvious emotion, Jones said “I think we’re all so fortunate to have been or to be part of Coach Holland’s legacy. … He was a great man. We’re really, really lucky to be influenced and touched by him.”

Sampson told stories of his recruitment and plays like the alley-oop against Ohio State as well, but he focused more on Holland and his family’s care. Remembering the same Holland house apartment with Pac Man and Donkey Kong, he said that what stood out most about his Virginia experience was the people. “It’s not about the color of your skin, it’s about the content of your character. All these guys here have character. All you guys out there had character. Coach Holland had the biggest character,” Sampson said.

Two other speakers captured snapshots from early in life and late in life. Lucky Graves, who was around eight years old when Coach Holland help basketball camps at Graves Mountain Farm, said that the coach would always come by the camp store and check on people. He remembered when campers had a problem, that Coach Holland always went to help rather than sending someone else. “Even as a little kid you’re looking way up to a person like that that’s a head coach somewhere like UVA and he just talked to you like a person, not a little kid,” Graves said. “Coach Holland all his life, that’s the way he was.”

Bobby Stokes played for Holland at Virginia and worked as a grad assistant as well, but laughed that Holland helped steer him toward medicine instead. In the last few years of his life, Stokes served as one of Holland’s doctors. Working to fight off emotion, Stokes said he was “honored” and “blessed” with the privilege. Though the battle with Alzheimer’s was difficult (help raise awareness and find a cure for the disease. Donations can be made to this link: https://act.alz.org/goto/CoachTHolland), he said that time spent with Holland made him better. “He fought with courage, he fought with dignity, and he fought with a clear vision,” like the coach Stokes knew back in 1975.

As magnificent of a job as those speakers all did capturing the life of Terry Holland, perhaps no one but the family themselves could tell their story better. The tribute concluded with Ann Holland speaking briefly about the “sun for my orbit since junior high school” and while she said she knew he would make an impact in his life even then, she had “no idea how powerful those connections would be.” Calling all those who gathered and all those who remembered Coach Holland from players to managers to administrators to fans to families to staff to custodians his “Dream Team” that had all gathered in this moment, she said nothing would make him happier than having all those favorite people together. “Every single person held the same exact value and were critical in creating the dream team and here you are.” Ann Holland said.

She then gave the last word to Terry Holland himself from an interview she did with him and asked him how do you want people to remember Terry Holland: “Like most people, I just want to be able to say that I did the best I could to make a difference, to leave the world a better place than I found it.”