Ohio Valley Conference

APSU Sports Information

Cheryl Holt

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 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.