latest

Women’s head soccer coach resigns from position

By: Tyler Push, Sports Editor

After just one year of coaching the women’s soccer team, Jay Holmes is leaving Newman for a new job.

Athletic director Joanna Pryor said that in his new job, Holmes will be working with at-risk students who left school due to COVID and never came back.

“His background is in corrections and working with troubled individuals, so he will be working with families and students to bring those kids back to get their degrees and high school diplomas,” Pryor said.

The new job will allow Holmes to help others in a different way, Pryor said.

“He was a good mentor for some of our young coaches,” Pryor said. “I think Jay taught us how important it is to build those relationships with the coaches and student athletes.”

Holmes could not be reached for an interview.

Freshman forward Cassandra Moeder said that she liked Holmes.

“He was not only a great coach, but he got to know us, and we could tell that he really cared about each player,” she said. “I hope our new coach is similar in the way that he genuinely cares about us and can really push us to improve next season.”

Holmes’ job was posted last week, and 30 applications have already been submitted, Pryor said. Interviews will start by the end of the week, and the athletic department would like to have the position filled before Holmes’ last day, which is Nov. 19.

“We are looking for somebody that has an interest in Newman and not just an interest in coaching women’s soccer,” she said.

Pryor said that she is sad to see Holmes go because he is such a great guy.

“He was just a real joy to work with,” she said. “You never had to tell Jay to do anything because he had already done it.”

Following high school, Holmes played collegiate soccer for Newman, where he earned four first-team All-District 10 selections and two National NAIA Player of the Week selections. Holmes has been named (Arkansas Valley Chisholm Trail League) AVCTL Coach of the Year nine times and was named the 2014 Kansas Large High School Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

During his year at Newman, Holmes led the team to a 1-13-2 record.


PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, Newman Athletics