Former Evans, Greenbrier coach says he might be persuaded to return
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Retired Evans High School and Greenbrier High School coach Terry Holder fishes near his home on Clarks Hill Lake earlier this month.
Photo by Chris Thelen
Former Evans and Greenbrier baseball coach Terry Holder might be heading back to the diamond soon.
The 58-year-old coach recently said he was interested in getting back into coaching.
"If the right situation came along, I would certainly investigate it," he said. "I got rejuvenated after being away for a few years. The fire started burning again."
Holder's accomplishments in Columbia County baseball are legendary. While at Evans, Holder won five state championships (1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994), establishing himself as one of the greatest baseball coaches in the history of the state.
In 1997, Holder moved on to Greenbrier as athletic director. He won three state titles in the school's first three seasons.
He became the first coach in state history to win 500 games, and the first coach in the nation to win a state title in a school's first season. He also won 15 region titles.
"It wouldn't surprise me if Coach Holder came back; nobody's pushing him around in a walker," said Ed Williams, current Greenbrier coach and a former player and assistant coach for Holder. "He is still at an age where he can teach the game and be very successful."
Retired Evans High School and Greenbrier High School coach Terry Holder hauls in a fish near his home.
Photo by Chris Thelen
There would be a caveat to landing Holder as a team's coach.
He said he would only seriously consider a job that was within reasonable distance of his Lincoln County home.
"I don't want to move away from here," Holder said. "I love where I live and want to stay here."
Holder, who still attends every Greenbrier home football and baseball game, said he would be open to any role that might be offered, including coaching football or maybe even returning as an athletic director.
"Coach Holder is a great motivator," said Ricky Beale, a former Holder player and current Evans' baseball coach. "He could get you to want to run through a wall for him."
Holder, a Hall of Fame inductee of the Georgia Dugout Club, Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and Brewton-Parker, dismissed that a new job would be a short-term deal.
"There are guys coaching baseball into their 70s," he said. "By those standards, I'm still a young guy."
Most, including Beale, believe that Holder would be successful if he did get a job.
"If he steps on the field with equal talent, you would have to give the nod to Terry Holder," Beale said. "He is going to make the kids believe in themselves and think they can beat anybody."