WHO IS JERRY HOLMES?
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By Jeff Cunningham, Hampton University Office of Sports Information
HAMPTON, Va. – A lot of people might simply know Jerry Holmes as the new head football coach at Hampton University. Others still might know him as the man taking over for Joe Taylor, who spent 16 years with the Pirates before leaving for Florida A&M.
Then there are those who remember Holmes as the man who tossed his shoe while speaking at the MEAC football press luncheon on July 25.
But as the Pirates prepare to open the 2008 season against Jackson State in Sunday’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Fla. (2 p.m., ESPN2), a bigger question remains largely unanswered:
Just who is Jerry Holmes?
Roots of Holmes
Holmes is a Newport News native, one who went to elementary and high school in Hampton. A 1976 graduate of Bethel High School, Holmes was on the 1974 and 1976 football teams that won Virginia Group AAA state championships.
Holmes’ sense of family was established early, as he was in the middle of 10 children to Earnest and Janice Holmes. Earnest worked two jobs: he was a rigger at the Newport News Shipyard and an auto mechanic for Sears. Janice worked to care for the children while Earnest was away, and on Sundays the family would attend church at Little Zion Baptist in Hampton.
Even as young as six, Holmes remembered seeing his family’s bond with God and applying that bond to his own life.
“I would see my mom and dad working hard every day, and then on Sunday we’d go and praise God,” Holmes said. “That kind of planted the seed for me.”
Though Earnest was never one to tell his children how he felt – Holmes said Earnest never said he loved him – Holmes said he saw how his father felt. In working two jobs, Earnest made sure all of his children had everything they needed.
“I never needed for anything,” Holmes said. “I was never hungry.”
Christmas was particularly special, combining the family’s faith in God with an abundance of gifts. But because the family was so large, Holmes said, saving for the holiday began literally the day after Christmas. Everyone in the family had their own personal place – piggy banks for the children – so they could save their money for gifts for everyone.
That foundation was enforced when Holmes enrolled in Chowan, which was a junior college in the late 1970s. Holmes took religion courses at Chowan, which he called a “powerful” experience.
Faith in a Higher Power
Holmes carries his faith in God and his sense of family with him even today. He still attends Little Zion, and recently took his players to the church. Though Holmes has turned down offers to become a deacon at the church – time constraints of being a football coach – he has participated in numerous fundraising efforts, mainly for Men’s Day.
The next Men’s Day fundraiser will be Sunday, Sept. 14.
“I have this foundation with the Lord,” Holmes said, “and to be able to plant that seed into some of my players – the way the seed was planted in me – was special. Some guys already had that foundation, but there were some who didn’t.”
For Holmes, his faith plays a large part in him being a role model. Not just on the football field, though Holmes has a wealth of experience there thanks to his years playing professionally. Holmes felt his faith once more when he lined up for the first time in the NFL: as a New York Jet against San Francisco 49ers legend Dwight Clark in 1980.
“I look around me, and I see the crowd and the people and think, ‘Wow, I’m in the NFL,’” Holmes said. “’There is a God.’”
Family and Serenity
Even today, Holmes’ family strengthens his faith. Married to Patricia Ann since his NFL days, Holmes said he made sure to keep his football life and family life separate. Patricia and daughter Natasha attend Hampton games, but Holmes doesn’t bring his work home.
Win or lose, Holmes leaves everything from the football field either in the office or the car. It never comes into the house with him.
Holmes points to the Serenity prayer, which hangs on his wall thanks to his older sister Lucille, who serves in the Army and recently returned to Virginia from a tour in Iraq. The prayer reads: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
“There’s no use in both of us being mad,” he said.
Patricia has been studying to become a pastor, while Natasha – who attends Jones Magnet Middle School in Hampton – plays piano and has shown athletic talent. Natasha is a cheerleader for the Aberdeen little league football team, and she plays tennis and basketball.
Holmes also said Natasha loves football. But that isn’t what he says keeps the family together.
“The family that prays together,” he said, “stays together. I force myself to spend time with my family … all my family does is strengthen my faith in the Lord.”
Natasha also introduced Holmes when he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of the Lower Peninsula on May 18. Holmes called it a surprise, citing that he didn’t do much as a player at Bethel, but felt honored to be inducted for his work elsewhere.
“And having Natasha introduce me was special,” he added.
When he isn’t coaching football or putting in his time with Little Zion Baptist, Holmes enjoys listening to music or watching a good movie. Holmes is also an avid softball fan, having played the sport since childhood. He sponsored his first area team during his early NFL career with the Jets, and even today he sponsors a team in the Hampton Recreational League.
This year, in fact, Holmes and his entire coaching staff played.
“It was a chance to bond with the coaches,” he said. “Just give us all a chance to get to know each other a little bit better.”
Influencing Others – Off the Field
For Holmes, being a football coach is about more than just the Xs and Os. He could talk formations and tackling fundamental until he’s blue in the face, but at the end of the day, Holmes looks at his job with a perspective granted to him by years of experience and a strong sense of faith.
“For me, it’s all about seeing the guys you coached doing well,” Holmes said. “Seeing others succeed is the most gratifying part of what I do, because I see them succeed and know I had a hand in that, that maybe I influenced them somehow.”
Holmes doesn’t just coach players when he recruits them, and his influence on them doesn’t end after the players have exhausted their four years of eligibility. Holmes likes to reach back and help those his job has touched in the past, and the first-year head coach mentioned the Gridiron Classics program as an example.
The Gridiron Classics was established specifically for Hampton graduates to help current Pirates. It ties in to Holmes’ beliefs in faith and family, two aspects that have melded into every facet of Holmes’ life, whether he’s on the football field or not.
“The team is like a family,” Holmes said. “That’s why I took them to my church. Seeing all my players there, seeing that bond and that foundation, it was a special thing.
“You don’t get more special than that.”
The original story was published here: http://www.hamptonpirates.com/News/football/2008/8/20/Holmes_8-20.asp?path=football
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