Eastern Washington University Athletics

After Eastern failed to win a football game in 1961 and 1962, Holmes took over as Eastern's head coach in 1963. He was 34-13-1 in five seasons for a school-record .719 winning percentage. In 1967 Eastern played for the NAIA title and was 11-1-0. Holmes sandwiched his stint at Eastern around an illustrious high school coaching career in Spokane. A Tonasket High School and Whitworth College graduate, he was 35-28-4 at North Central High School prior to taking over Eastern's program. He left Eastern in 1968 to take the head coaching position at Hawaii where he directed the Rainbows to six-straight winning seasons. The last two years, Hawaii was 8-3 and 9-2 and upset Washington at Husky Stadium in 1973. Holmes returned to Spokane and coached at University High School from 1974-84. The Titans were 60-38-3, won a Border League title and shared two Greater Spokane League championships as Holmes concluded a 19-year prep coaching record with a 95-66-7 record. In 1991, Holmes was selected to the Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame, with his former player and assistant coach Dick Zornes presenting him for induction. A member of five different halls of fame, he passed away in 1999.