Raise, praise, expanded title for Holland

From staff reports and a press release
©2007 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

The East Carolina University Board of Trustees this week approved a contract extension, a raise and a new title for Director of Athletics Terry Holland.

According to a press release from the school, Holland has agreed to contract amendments stipulating a two-year extension through 2011, a $36,000 annual raise to $324,000, and a change in title to Athletics Director and Executive Assistant to the Chancellor.

The announcement clearly signaled the approval of Holland's superiors with the manner in which he has carried out his job since being named ECU's AD 28 months ago.

"I believe strongly in leadership and teamwork, and Terry Holland has been exemplary in both these areas," stated ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard said. "These changes reflect my complete satisfaction with his performance.

"This extension will provide great stability for the Pirate Nation, and, over time, will make Coach Holland more available for special assignments."

Those assignments, Ballard noted, will be focused on building relationships, enhancing the university's national image through athletics, and providing advice on key problems and opportunities.

A Clinton native, Holland assumed command of ECU athletics in September of 2004 and quickly began restoring a strong sense of direction to a department stymied by the after-effects of several controversies spawned during the tenure of former AD Mike Hamrick.

Holland has hired new head coaches for ECU's three major sports, including the appointment of Skip Holtz to lead the school's flagship football program out of its abrupt plunge to the bottom rungs of the Division I-A football ladder in 2003-04. Over two seasons, Holtz has guided the Pirates back to winning form with the team landing a bowl berth at the end of this past season.

Ticket revenues and Pirate Club memberships have advanced on Holland's watch. Enhanced scheduling with prominent in-state and regional football opponents is expected to further boost revenues for a department that faced severe budget pressures upon Holland's arrival in Greenville.

An All-America basketball player during the Lefty Driesell era at Davidson, Holland was the first recruit signed by Driesell and became captain of the Wildcats (1963-64.)

He went on to serve highly successful stints as basketball coach and athletic director at Davidson and Virginia, becoming a prominent figure on the national college sports stage in the process. From 2001 until just before his arrival at ECU, Holland served as a special assistant to UVa president John T. Casteen, III.

Holland's comments about the revised contract were appreciative and expressed a commitment for the foreseeable future to helping ECU pursue its athletics objectives and larger institutional goals.

"I want to be here as long as I can contribute and make a difference," he stated. "I am very humbled by the fact that East Carolina wants me to stay.

"The additional title simply formalizes the manner in which I have been interacting with the chancellor and the university administration and does not detract in any way from my continuing focus on athletics' role in support of the mission of East Carolina University.

"The Chancellor believes in a TEAM approach and athletics intends to be the best possible member of the ECU TEAM that we can be."

The Board of Trustees signed off on the modifications in Holland's pact on Wednesday.

PAGE UPDATED 02/23/07 11:43 AM.

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