Auburn hires former Alabama State AD Monique Holland

AUBURN, Alabama — Monique Holland has been named Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Experience at Auburn, Director of Athletics Allen Greene announced Friday. Holland, who spent the previous nine years as Executive Senior Associate AD for Administration and the Senior Woman Administrator at SMU, has previously served as a Division I Athletics Director and was an Academic All-American basketball player at Alabama State.
 
At Auburn, Holland will have oversight of sport administration, AuburnYOU (the Athletics Career Network and Life Skills Programs), sports performance (strength & conditioning, athletic training, sports nutritionist and sports psychologist) and academics. Holland will also be Auburn's Deputy Title IX coordinator and Senior Woman Administrator.
 
"I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to support the student-athletes in being successful in all facets of their lives and adding value to the amazing team of administrators at Auburn University," Holland said. "Allen and my values align and I appreciate most that he has proven to be a student-athlete centered leader in each of his previous roles. I would like to thank Allen, President Leath and the Auburn administration for allowing me to join them in making a difference in the lives of our student-athletes, coaches and the Auburn Family.   I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to Rick Hart for his leadership during my time at SMU."
 
Holland has over 20 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics as a coach and athletic administrator. At SMU, Holland served as Chair of the Sport Administrators' group, offering oversight, guidance and support in coordination with the appropriate NCAA, AAC and University officials.
 
As the Executive Sr. Associate AD for Administration, Holland was responsible for providing regular updates to the Director of Athletics regarding the administration of SMU's 17 sports programs, including but not limited to initiatives and activities related to student-athlete welfare, personnel, compliance, finance, equity and Title IX. In addition, Holland had administrative oversight of Business Operations, Internal Controls, Human Resources and Sports Performance.

"Monique is a highly accomplished and respected administrator who will bring immediate value to Auburn Athletics," Greene said. "Her unique combination as a former student-athlete and her professional experience make Monique a perfect fit to handle this broad role. She understands the needs of our student-athletes on a personal level and also has experience supporting coaches and staff across the entire spectrum of the academic and athletics operation. A professional with Monique's background is hard to find and we are fortunate that she's joining the Auburn Family."
 
At SMU, Holland had direct sport oversight of the men's and women's basketball, cross country and track and field programs. She was responsible for hiring first time head women's basketball coach Travis Mays, who in his first season led the program to the third round of the NIT.
 
She also chaired the Athletics Diversity Council and, as the department's Title IX coordinator, was responsible for all gender equity matters. In addition, Holland also served as the University's Deputy Title IX Coordinator and served on various campus committees and task forces.
 
In her role as the SWA, Holland served as the Chair of the SWA group and Olympic sport liaison to the conference office, while also serving on the awards subcommittee, the championship committee for volleyball and the strategic planning committee. She has also served on the Athletic Director's Executive Committee. Prior to the 2011-12 academic year, Holland was also responsible for all NCAA Compliance at SMU.

Prior to arriving at SMU, Holland was the Athletics Director at Alabama State University. In her role as AD, Holland oversaw all 18 of ASU's intercollegiate sports and represented the SWAC on the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. Holland was instrumental in creating the department's policy and procedures manual and strategic plan.

Prior to being named ASU's AD, Holland led the Hornets' NCAA rules education and compliance program, holding the position of Associate AD/SWA. She served as the liaison to the SWAC Women's Basketball Coaches and Compliance groups.

Before ASU, Holland spent two-and-a-half years on Georgia State University's senior management team. She was appointed as SWA prior to her departure. While at GSU, Holland oversaw compliance, facilities and game day operations, and had sport oversight over volleyball, women's basketball, baseball and men's soccer.

Prior to working at Georgia State University, Holland served as the Assistant Director of Membership Services for the NCAA, where she served as a liaison to Peer Review Teams and NCAA institutions for Division I Athletics Certifications. Holland also served on various waiver teams.

Holland's career also includes stops at Clayton State University as its Assistant AD and SWA, and at Georgia Tech, as both an Assistant Director of Compliance and an assistant women's basketball coach.

Holland has a wide variety of experience on the national level as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Women Leaders in College Sports (WLICS), and the Minority Opportunities of Athletic Administrators (MOAA). She is also a graduate of NACWAA HERS, Women Leaders Executive Institute, Sports Management Institute, and Division I-A Institute. In June 2018, Holland graduated from the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program.

Holland holds a master's degree in sports administration from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in therapeutic recreation from Alabama State University, where she was an academic All-American and standout student-athlete for the Lady Hornets' basketball program.

COURTESY: AUBURN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS