Cheryl Holt, longtime APSU volleyball coach, to retire from coaching; will remain as athletics
administrator and teacher
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sp-05 BK/bk 4/21/172
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Cheryl Holt, who has served as Austin Peay State University's head volleyball
coach the past 23 seasons, has announced her retirement from coaching, effective Aug. 15. She will remain
as the athletic department's Senior Woman Administrator and assistant athletics director. In addition, she will
serve as a teacher in the Health and Human Performance department.
Holt amassed 363 victories as APSU head coach but most of her victories (241-177 record, 18.5 wins per
season, .584 winning percentage) came during the last 13 seasons, after more emphasis was placed on the
program. Holt will conclude her volleyball coaching career with 499 overall Division I victories in 28 years.
"I have been thinking about this for the last couple of years," Holt said. "Change is good. I have been doing
this for the last 23 years but I think this is in the best interests of the program and in my best interests. It is just
the right thing to do.
"I am fortunate to have the support of Dave (Loos), Dr. (Sherry) Hoppe and Dr. (Wayne) Chaffin (chairman
of the Health and Human Performance department) where I can remain at this University and work in other
areas. It's a win-win situation for the University and me personally."
When Dave Loos was named Athletics Director in Summer 1997, he asked Holt to assume administrative
duties. Later she was named Senior Woman Administrator and Assistant Athletics Director, where Holt helps
administrate the soccer and softball programs.
"We have been very fortunate to have Cheryl Holt as our volleyball coach the last 23 years," Loos said.
"She has been extremely successful as a coach but just as importantly has been a tremendous role model for
our student-athletes.
"Cheryl not only has been a great asset to Austin Peay but to the OVC as well. She has touched many
young peoples lives and has been a pleasure to work with. I will continue to look forward to working with her on
the administrative level."
"She has served this University well in her multiple roles over the years, in particular as volleyball coach,"
APSU President Sherry Hoppe said. "I am pleased she will continue her leadership role in the athletic
department."
Holt, who talked with Loos about her potential plans to retire after the fall season concluded, informed her
team of the decision late Thursday afternoon.
"The kids were good about it," she said. "There were some tears, but the fact I am still going to be here, I
am still going to have a relationship with them, maybe not as their coach but in other areas?I may have some
of them in class, made things a little easier in this transition.
"The most rewarding thing about this job has been the relationships I have developed with the student-
athletes. I have been very fortunate to have coached some great kids and had a chance to watch them develop
as athletes, but more importantly as people?and maintained a relationship with so many of them after they left
here."
The Columbus, Ohio native received back-to-back OVC Coach of the Year honors in 1991 and 1992. She
earned the 1991 honor after leading her squad to the an OVC tourney championship, the first non-Kentucky
team to earn the title. The next year, she led the Lady Govs to the regular-season title. Holt also was named
OVC South Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1987 during the old North-South format.
Holt came to Austin Peay as head coach in 1982 after serving two seasons (1976-77) at Ole Miss, the
second as head coach, and four at Miami (Fla.). However, it was not the first time for Holt on the APSU
campus. The 1969 Ohio State graduate earned her master's from APSU.
Holt has worn many hats during her APSU tenure. In addition to coaching volleyball, Holt was the head
women's tennis coach (1983-85), head women's softball coach (1986-87) when the program was initiated and
assistant women's basketball coach. Even now she is serving as interim athletics academic coordinator.
But no matter what sport she has coached, Holt has placed great emphasis on academics. Annually, her
team's overall grade-point average has been above 3.0.
No immediate plans were released on finding Holt's successor. Corey Carlin has served as APSU's
assistant coach for the past three seasons.