Jerry Holmes named Hampton University head football coach

Photo: Hampton University Pirates head football coach Jerry Holmes

by beepbeep

Jerry Holmes was named Saturday evening as the new head football coach at Hampton University, HU athletic director Lonza Hardy said. Holmes, the Pirates' defensive coordinator the past three seasons, replaces Joe Taylor, the Pirates' head coach the past 16 seasons.

Taylor has accepted the job as head coach at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Florida A&M, according to a story posted Saturday on Tallahassee.com. Taylor compiled a record of 136-49-1 at Hampton, guiding the Pirates to five MEAC and three CIAA titles. He is the winningest coach in school history.

CONTINUE READING THE STORY BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE LINK ABOVE.

Coach Holmes is well qualified for the position with 10 years NFL experience as a player and five years as a NFL position coach. He has served 10 years combined at both West Virginia University and Hampton University as a linebackers coach/co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator.

Holmes is a graduate of Chowan Junior College where he earned an associate degree in business administration before transferring to West Virginia University. There he was a two-year Letterman in football, earning his degree in business administration in 1979. He is also an inductee in the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame.

You got to give Hampton University credit for having a succession plan for the future College Football Hall of Famer, Joe Taylor who will be welcomed to Florida A&M University in a Monday press conference.

This is amazing--two head football coaching hires in the same evening in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This has never happen before in MEAC history.