AU softball coach Larry Holloway passes away

Long-time Anderson University softball coach Larry Holloway passed away on July 8, 2007 at St. John’s Hospital in Anderson after a brief illness.

Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at the Kardatzke Wellness Center on the campus of Anderson University as well as one hour (12-1 p.m.) prior to the service on Friday at Loose Funeral Home.

Services will be at the Robert D. Loose Funeral Home South Chapel on 200 W. 53rd Street in Anderson at 1 p.m. with Pastor Paul Blair officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Anderson University Softball Program or Pendleton New Life Wesleyan Church in memory of Larry W. Holloway.

Holloway, 72, has been the head coach of the Raven softball team for the last 24 years and has been a part of the program for the past 30 years. He was an assistant coach for the first five years of the softball program before taking over the top spot in 1984.

“Coach Holloway left an indelible impact on the Anderson University softball program, and the Department of Athletics joins many friends in expressing our deepest sympathy to Betty Jo and the entire Holloway family,” said AU Director of Athletics Michael Zapolski. “Larry’s affection for the softball program was evident to everyone, and he used the coaching platform to mentor and teach young ladies for three decades. Larry truly embodied the mission of Anderson University through his dedicated and loyal service, and, in retrospect, it almost seems fitting that the recently concluded 2007 season was one of the best in the program’s storied history.”

Over his illustrious career, Holloway had an overall record of 431-503. His teams won five conference regular season titles (1994, 1997-2000) and five post-season championships (1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2007). He has been named conference Coach of the Year eight times (1988, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2007).

Holloway’s teams also advanced to three NCAA regionals and he coached seven conference MVPs and 71 All-Conference players. He ranked 21^st on the NCAA Div. III career wins list with 431 and was 19^th on the active wins list after the 2007 season.

The 1999 team posted a school-record 35 wins, including the regular season conference title with a perfect 14-0 mark. They advanced to the NCAA Div. III West Region in Chapman, Calif. The 2000 squad recorded the second most wins in school history, going 30-21 and winning both the conference regular season and post-season championships. They advanced to the NCAA Div. III Mideast Region in Muskingum, Ohio.

His 2007 Ravens won the HCAC post-season tournament and finished third in the NCAA Div. III Central Region in Muskingum, Ohio. The Ravens knocked off the top two teams in the region en route to their best tournament finish in school history.

Over the past 10 years, Holloway was 214-195 with three conference titles, two tournament championships, three Coach of the Year awards and three NCAA regional appearances. He also became the oldest coach in NCAA Div. III softball history to be named Coach of the Year at age 71 after the 2007 season.

“Larry Holloway was a much loved and valued member of the AU family who made a long and lasting contribution to the softball program, to our student athletes and to his colleagues in intercollegiate athletics,” said AU President Dr. James L. Edwards. “We who were privileged to serve with Coach Holloway knew him as a wonderful man of integrity whose love for his program and for this university was an inspiration to all of us and we will miss him. His was a truly significant investment in so many athletes across the years and our hearts go out to his players, his family and to all who mourn his passing. We are deeply grateful for this good man for the portion of his life so generously invested on the Anderson University campus.”

Holloway was also the founder of the Pendleton Youth Football League and one of the founding members of the Pendleton Youth Softball League. He also coached traveling softball teams in Pendleton for more than 20 years.

Holloway is survived by his wife of more than 50 years Betty Jo (Millage) as well as his children Terri, Tony, Tandy, Tracy, Teffenie and Trecia.

Anderson University is a private, four-year, Christian liberal arts institution of approximately 2,900 undergraduate and graduate students. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, the university offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and graduate programs of study in theology, business, nursing, music and education.