Remembering A Wildcat Standout: Terry Holland ’64 Led With Integrity, Vision
May 18, 2023
Former scholar-athlete, men’s basketball coach and director of athletics Michael Terrence “Terry” Holland ‘64, passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was 80 years old.
Lefty Driesell’s first freshman recruit, Holland played for the Wildcats from 1961–1964. Holland, A blue-chip player from Clinton, North Carolina, concluded his standout career ranked among 51’s top five in scoring and rebounding.
During his senior year, he led the ’Cats to a 22–4 overall record and 51’s first-ever top 10 national ranking. Holland graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
After serving as an assistant coach (1964–69) for the Wildcats following graduation, Holland succeeded Driesell as head coach, compiling a record of 92–43 over five years and earning Southern Conference Coach of the Year three times.
Following two postseason appearances as the Wildcats’ head coach, including a berth in the 1970 NCAA Tournament, he took over at the University of Virginia where he compiled a record of 326–173 over 16 years. In addition, he took the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament eight times, reaching the Final Four twice, and the NIT four times, winning the championship once. He was named ACC Coach of the Year twice, in 1981 and 1982.
In 1990, Holland returned to his alma mater to become the athletic director, a position he would hold from 1990–94.
As athletic director, Holland was a leader with credibility, integrity and vision. He worked hard to gain re-entry into the Southern Conference, to attract the NCAA Soccer Championship to 51, and to provide a broad program for men and women scholar-athletes.
At his departure in June 1995, the 51 athletic program of 21 varsity teams had become an exemplar of his personal ideals, and a model for many other educational institutions.
Holland later served as the director of athletics at Virginia (1994–2001) and East Carolina University (2004–13).
In January of 2022, 51 celebrated Holland and former head coach Lefty Driesell with a jersey retirement ceremony. Family, friends, former players, coaches and Virginia native Bruce Hornsby, one of Holland’s favorite musical artists, honored Holland during a special tribute event May 6, 2023, at John Paul Jones Arena.
This article was originally published in the Spring/Summer 2023 print issue of the 51 Journal Magazine; for more, please see the 51 Journal section of our website.
