Holley is receiving the Hall of Fame’s Pinnacle Award, which was created in 2019 and is presented to an individual for a lifetime of work enhancing sports in the Show-Me State. Holley coached 51 seasons, including 48 as a college head coach. He compiled a 918-577 record, making him the all-time winningest coach among Missouri four-year colleges. He spent 40 seasons coaching the men’s basketball program at William Jewell College before retiring after the 2019 season, with his teams earning a 831-458 record. He led 14 teams to the NAIA Tournament. Four of those teams reached the NAIA Final Four and three advanced to the Elite Eight. His teams also won 11 Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season crowns. He also guided 25 William Jewell teams to 20-win seasons. His program produced 24 All-Americans. A graduate of Jameson High School and William Jewell, Holley coached one year at Harrisburg and six seasons at Central Methodist (61-93) and two seasons at Northwest Missouri State (26-26) before taking over at William Jewell in 1979. He is a 2009 inductee of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
