AJ Holland begins his first season as assistant men’s basketball coach.
Holland, a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has deep family roots in basketball. His father, James, is an assistant basketball coach at NCAA Division I Western Michigan and his younger brother, Kevin, currently plays for former UAFS men’s basketball coach Doc Sadler at NCAA Division I Southern Mississippi University.
A graduate of Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Holland played his freshman season at Rice University, where he averaged two points and one rebound per game while playing in 26 games and averaging 12.1 minutes per tame.
As a sophomore, he played for College of Central Florida, where he averaged 5.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.96 rebounds per game while playing in 28 games.
Holland played his final two collegiate seasons at NCAA Division II University of Sioux Falls. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a junior, playing in 28 games and averaging 27 minutes per game. As a senior, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, one steal and 2.3 assists per game while playing 27 games and averaging 28 minutes per game.
Prior to joining Newman’s staff, the 26-year-old Holland worked for Elite Hoops Basketball, where he helped direct Nike Basketball Camps and offered individualized training to athletes in the Atlanta, Ga., metro area.
