Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State Athletics Department announced on Monday that Larry Holmes has been named the head coach of the men's and women's tennis programs.
Holmes arrives at NSU after serving as a volunteer assistant with the Virginia Tech women's program the past year. He also held head coaching positions at Bethany College and Benedictine University.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be named the head tennis coach at Norfolk State University. I would to thank the search committee, our president Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, our Athletics Director Melody Webb, and my sports supervisor Ivana Rich for allowing me to have this wonderful opportunity," Holmes said. "I am living out my dream to be a Division I head coach, and I cannot think of a better place to fulfill this exciting opportunity than here at Norfolk State.
"Our goal for both the men's and women's tennis programs is for us to excel in the classroom, to be good role models in the community, and to compete consistently for conference championships in the best HBCU conference in the country."
"We are excited to welcome Larry to the Spartan family to serve as the head coach for our men's and women's programs," Webb said. "He brings a wealth of experience from various levels of tennis with his most recent stint at Virginia Tech. As a graduate of Johnson C. Smith, his knowledge of the HBCU landscape will prove valuable as he elevates our tennis programs both on and off the court."
Since the fall of 2019, Holmes served as a volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech. He helped the Hokies finish 7-7 in the spring of 2020 before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. They ranked as high as No. 35 in the country, and he helped the program bring in the No. 13 ranked recruiting class for 2020 according to TennisRecruiting.net.
Prior to joining Virginia Tech's staff, he spent the 2018-19 season as the interim men's and women's head coach at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. Freshman Raul Rivero-Eggers was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Freshman of the Year and the ITA Rookie of the Year in the NAIA Central Region during Holmes' season in charge. Rivero-Eggers ranked in the top 50 in the nation.
Holmes was also the head coach at Benedictine University in Arizona from 2014-16. He was responsible for recruiting players for Benedictine's inaugural season in both men's and women's tennis.
He also brings experience as a tennis coach at University of Michigan summer tennis camps and at the Naval Academy Tennis Center. He spent time as a staff professional at the Kiwanis Recreation Center in Tempe, Arizona, and most recently at the Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem, Virginia.
While in Arizona, he was the boy's head coach at Mountain Pointe High School for eight years, becoming the first black head tennis coach at the high school level in Arizona. He led three teams to top-15 finishes in the Arizona 6A standings. More than 20 of his players advanced to the Arizona High School State Tournament. Three of those players earned Region Player of Year honors. He led Mountain Pointe to a pair of regional titles and was tabbed the Region Coach of the Year on one occasion.
Holmes graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with a bachelor's degree in physical education and sport management in 2004. He was a four-time first-team All-CIAA honoree in tennis and led the Golden Bulls to four straight CIAA titles. He was named the league's Co-Rookie of the Year in 2001 and led the program during a 90-match conference win streak.
He replaces former NSU head coach Mike Mucci, who resigned in the late fall for another opportunity in the sport of tennis.