Ashley Holmes has been named the new Head Coach for the Florida Southern College men’s soccer program. Director of Athletics Drew Howard made the announcement today.
Holmes had been an assistant coach for the past six seasons, then was elevated to Interim Head Coach earlier in March.
“We are very excited to promote Ashely Holmes to the head coach position. Coach Holmes knows what it takes to be a Florida Southern men’s soccer student-athlete and this conference better than anyone,” said Howard. “He has excellent character and passion that we are excited to have leading this program. We are confident that Coach Holmes will continue to develop excellent student-athletes and continue to grow our alumni support.”
A 2012 graduate of Florida Southern, Holmes is no stranger to the college, as has been a part of the men’s soccer program for all but one of the last 12 years.
“I want to thank President Kerr, Drew Howard, Jill Stephens and the search committee for this opportunity,” said Holmes. “I am honored and focused on continuing to move this program forward. This is exactly where I envisioned starting my head coaching career and I am excited about taking the next step here at Florida Southern College.”
One of the most decorated players in team history, Holmes spent five seasons with the Moccasins as a student-athlete from 2008-12, which included a redshirt year in 2009. During that time, he started all 54 games in which he played and was a three-time First Team All-Sunshine State Conference defender. He is one of only three players in team history to make the All-SSC Team three times, was an NSCAA All-South Region selection in 2010, and was twice selected as the Mocs’ Most Valuable Player (2010 and 2012). Well-known for his abilities as a center back, Holmes also ranks among the highest scoring defenders to ever play for the Moccasins. He totaled 11 goals and 23 points in his career and was their second leading scorer as a redshirt junior in 2011 with six goals.
Holmes has the distinction of being the only Moccasin to serve as a team captain four years. He was elected to that role as a sophomore in 2009, the year in which he redshirted, and continued to hold that title throughout the remainder of his career. He was also a leader in the classroom, winning two NCAA Academic Achievement Awards, earning Academic All-Region honors in 2011, and a spot on the SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in all five years on the roster, including his final season when he played as a graduate student.
In addition to his duties at Florida Southern, Holmes is also a member of the Auburndale Scream coaching staff where he holds the title of Director of Coaching.