Terry Holland obit

Former Virginia Men's Basketball Head Coach Terry Holland Dies at 80

 

He was not on the list.

Former Virginia men's basketball head coach Terry Holland died on Sunday, February 26th in Charlottesville. Holland, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019, was 80 years old.

Holland coached the Virginia men's basketball team for 16 seasons from 1974 to 1990, leading the Cavaliers to two NCAA Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1984, the program's first ACC Tournament Championship in 1976, an NIT title in 1980, three-straight ACC regular season titles from 1981-1983, and nine NCAA Tournament appearances, a period that put the UVA men's basketball program on the map.

At the time of his retirement in 1990, Holland was UVA's all-time winningest head coach with a record of 326-173, a record that stood for 33 years until Tony Bennett surpassed him earlier this season. He recruited and developed several legendary Virginia basketball stars, including Ralph Sampson, Wally Walker, Jeff Lamp, and Bryant Stith. "As both a successful coach and respected administrator, Terry Holland leaves an indelible imprint on the University of Virginia, the ACC, college basketball, and college athletics," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips. "He was a true gentleman that embraced his players and colleagues as family. Our hearts will remain with his wife Ann and the entire Holland family."

Holland coached for five years at his alma mater Davidson and compiled an overall record of 418-216 in 21 years as a head coach. Holland also spent four years as the athletic director at Davidson after his retirement from coaching before returning to UVA to serve as the school's athletic director from 1994 to 2001. He then served as the athletic director at East Carolina from 2004 to 2013.

Holland is survived by his wife, Ann, two daughters Ann-Michael and Kate, and three grandchildren.

One of Holland's assistants at both Davidson and Virginia was Jim Larrañaga, who became a media darling in 2006 as the head coach at George Mason after leading the Patriots to an improbable berth in that season's Final Four. Other former players and/or assistants who went on to become Division I or NBA head coaches are Marc Iavaroni, Bill Cofield, Mike Schuler, Rick Carlisle, Barry Parkhill, Richard Schmidt, Anthony Solomon, Seth Greenberg, Jeff Jones, Dave Odom, and Ricky Stokes.

Holland was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. At the time of his induction, the Hall noted that he "has a name synonymous with excellence. His coaching and administrative achievements are a testament to his character and dedication to sports. His influence on the University of Virginia's athletic program has made him a prominent role model in Virginia sports history. Terry Holland’s induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute for a talented athlete who became a successful coach and a dedicated, visionary leader.