Jerry Holmes head coach JERRYHEAD HOLMES COACH Jerry Holmes enters his first season as head coach at Hampton University. Prior to becoming head coach, Holmes spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Hampton (2004-07). Holmes also spent five years coaching defensive backs for the San Diego Chargers (2002-03), the Washington Redskins (2001) and the Cleveland Browns (1999-00). As a coach, Holmes embodies the same characteristics that he demonstrated as a player in the NFL and the USFL: physical play and aggressive football. His coaching prowess has transferred successfully to his players on the field everywhere he has been. In 2001, his Redskins secondary boasted the NFL’s sixth-leading defense against the pass. The team’s 23 interceptions were the fifth-most in the league. During Holmes’ tenure with the Browns, Cleveland ranked 11th and 12th in the league against the pass. Holmes began his coaching career as the linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at Hampton University from 1992 to 1994. During those three seasons with the Pirates, Hampton posted a remarkable record of 31-4-1, winning three consecu- tive CIAA championships, making two trips to the NCAA playoffs and capturing the 1994 Black College National Championship. After leaving Hampton, Holmes spent the next four seasons (1994-98) as the defensive backs coach at his alma mater, West Virginia University. In 1996, the Mountaineers featured the nation’s top-ranked defense that included a No. 5 national ranking against the pass. He has also completed coaching internships with the Detroit Jerry Holmes Lions, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Boston University. Quick Facts Since his return to Hampton, Holmes has continued his previous success by guiding PERSONAL linebacker Justin Durant to three consecutive MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, Hometown: Newport News, Va. College: West Virginia, ‘79 while also helping the Pirate defense lead the country in turnovers forced with 43 in Birthdate: December 21, 1957 2004. During the 2005 campaign, his unit finished the year ranking second in the Birthplace: Newport News, VA Wife: Patricia Ann Division I FCS in points allowed at 14 points per game, while also ranking sixth in total Children: Natasha Nicole (11) defense. Last season, the Pirates continued to display their dominance on the defensive COACHING POSITIONS side of the ball, surrendering just 14.5 points per game, ranking third in pass defense Years as college coach: 15 years and second in tackles for loss. Hampton Linebackers/Co-Defensive Coord. As a player, Holmes’ professional career spanned 12 seasons as a cornerback and (1992-1994) included stops with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers (1990-91), Detroit Lions (1988-89) West Virginia and New York Jets (1980-83, 86-87), as well as the USFL’s New Jersey Generals (1985) Defensive Backs (1994-98) and Pittsburgh Maulers (1984). His NFL totals included 25 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Cleveland Browns Defensive Backs (1999-2000) Holmes began his collegiate career at Chowan Junior College, where he earned an associate degree in business administration before transferring to West Virginia. There Washington Redskins Defensive Backs he was a two-year letterman in football, earning his degree in business administration (2001) in 1979. As the captain of the Mountaineers during his senior campaign, Holmes was San Diego Chargers honored with the Ira A. Rodgers Award as the team’s most valuable player. Defensives Backs (2002-03) Holmes resides in Newport News with his wife Patricia Ann and they have one Hampton daughter, Natasha Nicole (11). Defensive Coord. (2004-2007) Hampton Head Coach (2007-Present) 43 Jerry Holmes Year-by-Year JERRY HOLMES YEAR-BY-YEAR YEAR SCHOOL RECORD NOTES Assistant Coach 1992 Hampton 9-2-1; 7-0-1 CIAA CIAA Champs/NCAA Playoffs 1993 Hampton 12-1; 8-0 CIAA CIAA Champs/NCAA Quarterfinalist 1994 Hampton 10-1; 8-0 CIAA CIAA Champs/SBN Black College National Champs 1995 West Virginia 5-6; 4-3 Big East 1996 West Virginia 8-4; 4-3 Big East Lost to North Carolina in Gator Bowl, 20-13 1997 West Virginia 7-5; 4-3 Big East Lost to Georgia Tech in Carquest Bowl, 35-30 1998 West Virginia 8-4; 5-2 Big East Lost to Missouri in Insight.com Bowl, 34-31 1999 Cleveland Browns 2-14 2000 Cleveland Browns 3-13 2001 Washington Redskins 8-8 2002 San Diego Chargers 8-8 2003 San Diego Chargers 4-12 2004 Hampton 10-2; 6-1 MEAC Co-MEAC Champs/NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs/SBN Black College National Champions 2005 Hampton 11-1; 7-0 MEAC MEAC Champs/NCAA DI-AA Playoffs/SBN Black College National Champs 2006 Hampton 10-2; 7-1 MEAC MEAC Champs/NCAA DI-AA Playoffs 2007 Hampton 6-5; 5-3 MEAC Head Coach 2008 Hampton 44 WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT COACHcoach HOLMES holmes Romeo Crennel — Cleveland Browns Head Coach “Jerry is a coach who always showed great attention to detail and tremendous leadership abilities. I have no doubt that these traits, as well as his experience coaching and teaching young men, will help make a positive impact as he leads the football program at Hampton University.” Bill Arnsparger — San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator – 1992-1995 “Jerry Holmes is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. His ability to deal with peo- ple and teach them, no matter what the level, is really second to none. I’m excited to see him be a head coach, and I know he’ll do wonders for Hampton University.” Chris Palmers — Quarterback Coach, New York Giants/Former Head Coach of the Browns “Jerry Holmes is a special guy who has always had the bug to coach. He’s an excellent football coach and an excellent teacher, and he has a tremendous respect for the game. Anyone who plays for Coach Holmes will benefit, both in the game and as a person.” Ken Whisenhunt — Arizona Cardinals Head Coach “I have had the great pleasure of working with Coach Holmes and he has a great passion for the game as a teacher and a leader and I just know that he will do a great job.” Joe Taylor — Florida A&M Head Coach “Integrity, outstanding character … I’ve never met anyone more knowledgeable about the game than Coach Holmes. When you’ve played the game at the highest level for as long as he has, there’s obviously a passion there. There’s no one I’d rather see get this job than Coach Holmes.” Tony Sparano — Miami Dolphins Head Coach “I worked with Jerry Holmes for several years. Jerry is an outstanding communicator with his players and really is one of the few coaches who I’ve been around that gets the absolute most out of his players. He coached a difficult position being the secondary, and was able to get an awful lot out of his players in the several places that he and I have been together. I think he will be outstanding for Hampton.” 45 Assistant Coaches DONOVAN ROSE Assistant Head / Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach Donovan Rose is entering his 18th season on the Hampton University football coaching staff and his first as defensive coordinator. As a secondary coach, Donovan’s philosophy and coaching style has attracted attention from the American Football Coaches Association and the NFL. He recently was selected to participate in the NCAA Expert Football Coaching Academy in Miami. Donovan also earned internships with the Miami Dolphins in 1996, San Diego Chargers in 2000 and 2001 and the New York Giants in 2002. In addition, Donovan has received the 2006 L.D. Britt, M.D. Community Service Award for his involvement and untiring service with youth and student athletes; the 2003 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in Division I-AA and the All-American Football Foundation Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award. As a Distinguished Hamptonian (1979) and Norview (Norfolk, Va.) High School graduate, he began his playing career in 1975 as a walk-on defensive back and kicker for the Pirates. By his senior year, he was voted Defensive Player of the Year in the CIAA, All-American and was selected as a starter and captain in the 1978 Black College All-Star game at the New Orleans Super Dome. He later signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1980, and also played for several championship teams in the Canadian Football League, winning the Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1984. In 1986, he joined the Miami Dolphins and led the team in inter- ceptions. Rose retired from Miami in 1988. Since his arrival at Hampton in 1991, the Pirates have won 14 champi- onships, graduated over 185 student-athletes and placed over 40 players in professional leagues. Donovan has developed and placed several defensive backs in the pros and recruited several players who were either drafted or became free agents in the NFL. His most notable recruits have been Cordell Taylor, 2nd round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998, and Kendall Langford, 3rd round pick for the Miami Dolphins in 2008. As the defensive coordinator, Rose’s first area of concern is to make sure defensively the players are fundamentally sound, aggressive and students of the game. Speed is the top priority for the upcoming season. Each man must know his individual assignment responsibility on every defense play and go hard for five seconds at a time. Donovan is married to the former Miss Hampton University (1981) Sylvia Woody, Esq., a native of Tampa, Fla., and they are the parents of two children: Deja (20), a junior at Georgetown University and Donovan Jr.