PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Allan Holland Jr., who was named interim head football coach at the University of Pikeville on Aug. 11, is dropping the interim tag and will be on the sidelines Saturday as the program’s sixth head football coach, Athletic Director Robert Staggs announced on Wednesday.
“Allan has done an outstanding job since taking over in August and deserves the chance to lead this group as the head coach,” said Staggs. “He has been an integral part of our football program for five seasons and I look forward to seeing our growth with the continuity of someone who understands the university, area and vision of our athletic department.”
Holland began his coaching career at UPIKE in 2010 as offensive coordinator, then was promoted to associate head coach from 2011 to 2013. The promotion on Wednesday marks his first official head coaching position, although the 2-3 start tallied as interim coach is his, including the 22-7 win at No. 23 Cumberlands last weekend.
“I appreciate the opportunity to lead the UPIKE football program moving forward,” said Holland Jr. “I would like to thank the university’s Board of Directors, President James Hurley and Robert Staggs for this new endeavor and believing in my ability to lead this football program into a promising future. We are committed to building a program on and off the field that will make this great university proud.
“Special thanks also go to my wife and family for standing by my side through the times leading up to this moment.”
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The Hazard, Ky., native utilizes a wide-open, spread offense which has nearly re-written all of the record books at UPIKE. Those marks include most points in a game (63 against Southern Virginia in 2011), total yards in a game (727 at Georgetown in 2010) and coaching quarterback Trevor Hoskins to a record 2,673 passing yards in 2010.
As the quarterback at Eastern Kentucky in 2007 and 2008, Holland won two Ohio Valley Conference Championships and earned 2007 OVC Player of the Year honors. Holland had transferred to EKU after starting his collegiate career at Wake Forest in 2004.
After graduating from EKU with a degree in physical education, Holland became an offensive graduate assistant and quarterback coach with the Colonels.
Holland was a high-school football standout at Perry County Central and also played quarterback in the UIFL Arena Football League for two seasons.
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