INDIANAPOLIS - One of the greatest coaching eras at Marian University will see its conclusion at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, as Michael Holman, Marian men's and women's cross country and track and field head coach, has announced his pending retirement. Holman, who is in his 12th season at Marian University and his 46th year as a high school or colleigate coach, has taken the Knights' cross country and track and field programs to new heights, setting a standard of excellence.

"I want to thank President Elsener, the Board of Trustees, and especially our Athletic Director Steve Downing for giving me the opportunity to lead the Men's & Women's Track & Field/Cross Country programs for the last 12 years," said Holman. "It's been an incredible journey from our humble beginning of 40 athletes to the 130 athletes we have today. I feel very good about leaving each program (four high schools and Marian University) better than when I arrived. I would like to thank every assistant coach and every athlete I've had the honor and privilege to coach throughout my career.

Most importantly, I want to thank my wife and best friend, Lu Ann Holman, for all her support along with my sons Eric and Kiel. They always supported  my travels with love and patience as I chased my passion. Without my family, none of this would have been possible. I've stood on the shoulders of some of the greatest coaches in the world while being true to myself and giving back as much I as could to this great profession. I look forward to the next chapter. MAY GOD BLESS ALL."

Mike Holman began coaching at Marian University in 2012, accepting the title as the program's second-ever cross country and track and field head coach. Under his leadership at Marian, the Knights captured 21 Crossroads League championships in track and field for men and women, and one Crossroads League Championship on the cross country course, with the men winning the championship in 2016.

Under his tutelage, the Knights earned 20 All-Crossroads League honors in cross country for men and women and over 200 honors in men's and women's track and field. The Knights have earned a combined 170 NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards in men's and women's track and field and cross country. Holman led two runners to NAIA All-American honors in cross country, and in track and field saw his men earn 57 All-American awards in 19 events, while the women have claimed 41 All-American accolades in 18 events. Including relay participants, Marian has earned over 190 NAIA All-Americans since Holman's arrival in 2012. 

Marian's prowess on the national stage of track and field took off during the 2016 Indoor NAIA Championships, when Coach Holman guided Taylor Killings to the 60m hurdle National Championship, the first individual title for Marian in school history. The Knights finished 11th in the 2016 NAIA Indoor Championships, and later in the outdoor season, Killings would go on to win the 110m hurdle championship at the 2016 NAIA National Championships. Holman led the Knights even further in 2017, as a repeat championship from Killings in the 60m hurdles along with a national championship from Presley Martin in the 800m pushed Marian to a seventh place finish. The two championships in the same event stood as a Marian record for most national championships in one meet until the 2024 season.

The Knights would go three years without a champion on the national circuit, but in 2020, the drought snapped, as Holman guided Erin Oleksak to Marian's first-ever individual championship for a female student-athlete, when the two-sport athlete won the NAIA National Championship in the pentathlon in her freshman season. Oleksak would go on to win the NAIA National Championship in the pentathlon again in 2022, which would be the first of six national titles at the indoor championships in a three-year window.

In that same 2022 championship, Bryce Carmack earned an NAIA National Championship in the men's pole vault at the indoor championships. in the most recent NAIA National Championships this past March, Arriana Benjamin won both the shot put and weight throw titles, while Jacob Netral won the shot put and Isaiah Tipping won the weight throw.

Following Killings' national championship in 2016, the Knights earned NAIA Outdoor National Championships on the women's side in 2021 and 2022 in the triple jump, as Naomi Walters and Jai-Lyn Norwood went back-to-back as national champions. Arriana Benjamin earned her first career national championship in the 2022 outdoor season, winning the NAIA Championship in the shot put. 

In the 2023 NAIA Outdoor National Championships, the Knights saw their highest finish ever in the team scoring, men or women, when Holman's women's track and field team placed fourth nationally, led by the individual efforts of Erin Oleksak, Jai-Lyn Norwood, and Arriana Benjamin. In the 2024 NAIA Indoor National Championships, Holman would see his men follow suit with their best-ever finish, as the championships from Isaiah Tipping and Jacob Netral, along with strong races by Tristan Trevino and other members of the mid-distance group, helped Marian place third in the final scoring. 

"Coach Holman has been one of the most successful coaches for me for the last decade at Marian University," said Director of Athletics Steve Downing. "Coach's legacy at Marian is truly one of the best-ever, coaching athletes to 14 individual NAIA National Championships, 22 total Crossroads League Championships, and countless NAIA All-Americans. I thank Coach Holman for everything he has given this university in his 12 years, and look forward to a successful end to his coaching career this spring."

Marian's success at the Crossroads League level under Holman has featured 21 championships. The men's track and field team won eight outdoor championships and five indoor championships, while the women have won four outdoor and four indoor championships.

Holman has been named Coach of the Year in Track and Field 21 times for indoor and outdoor track and field by the Crossroads League, and is also a five-time Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year. Holman has also earned one Great Lakes Region Cross Country Coach of the Year. The legendary coach is a member of the Indiana Assosciation of Track & Cross Hall of Fame, as well as the Delaware County Hall of Fame.

In leading Marian's cross country program, his top season came in 2016, when the Marian men climbed as high fourth overall in the national rankings, winning the Crossroads League Championship for just the second time in school history. Holman was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year, and led by the group of Lucas Sullivan, Presley Martin, Isaak Haas, Chandler Ball, Thomas Revard, Gabe Ocasio, and Nathan Gonzalez, the Knights finished 14th at the NAIA Championships, their best finish in program history. The Knights previous best finish under Holman came in 2015, when the team finished 17th at the NAIA Championships

Before finding team success, Holman had individual cross country coaching success in the form of Ann Kuntz, who was a multiple-year qualifier at the NAIA Championships. Kuntz is Marian's second-ever NAIA All-American in women's cross country, as she finished 19th at the 2015 championships with a school-record time of 18:04. Kuntz would be followed by Joe Barrett in 2022 as an NAIA All-American. Barrett finished 30th at the national meet. Conor Smith, Blake Hipkiss, Kiersten Schrope, and Rachel Dever all competed individually at the NAIA Championships under Holman's guidance and coaching.

Prior to Marian, Holman was the University of Indianapolis assistant coach during the 2011-12 season. This stint came after a 23-year career as the head coach at Lawrence Central High School. During his time at LCHS, Holman coached two state championship teams, had four teams finish as state runners-up and his teams won 20 conference championships in track and three in cross country. His teams earned a combined 17 sectional championships and 10 regional titles. 

Holman began his coaching career at Eastern Hancock High School, and also coached at Wapahani and Muncie Northside. While a high school coach, Holman was a biology teacher.

Holman has also served as Field Director of Junior Elite Athletes and Emerging Elite Coaches Programs for USATF since 1996. He has conducted camps at the Olympic Training Center as Lead Instructor in Chula Vista, CA, and at the Walt Disney World Sports Complex in Orlando, FL.

On the international scene, Holman was an assistant coach for the 2006 World Championship team that competed in Moscow. He was support staff at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, as well as for the 2011 World Championships in Daugu, South Korea. Additionally, he served as support staff for the U.S. Men's and Women's Track and Field teams at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Holman also worked with the U.S. Track and Field teams at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Coach also coached a Indoor World Champion and World Record holder, Kind Butler, as a member of the USA 4 x 400m Relay team in Poland.

Holman's final season will conclude on May 24, when the Knights conclude the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. All of Marian University wishes Coach Holman the best in his retirement, and are rooting for a strong end to the year at conference and nationals. 

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