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Thursday. April 29. 2Q1Q
Sports
Chris Holtmann ready to begin new era for GWU
by Blake DuDonis
Pilot Editar-in-Chief
After nearly two months of searching, Gardner-
Webb has named Chris Holtmann as the new men’s
basketball coach, making him the first new coach at the
school in 15 years,
Holtmann is very familiar with Gardner-Webb as
he spent 2003-2008 as an assistant for the school under
former head coach Rick Scruggs. The last two seasons,
however, he has spent at Ohio University, who recent
ly upset three-seed Georgetown University in the first
round of NCAA tournament this past season.
“Chris exemplifies the leadership qualities, along
with the spiritual maturity to guide this basketball pro
gram to the upper echelon of the Big South Confer
ence,” said Vice President for Athletics Chuck Burch.
“We are pleased to appoint him as the driving force be
hind a bright, new era in Gardner-Webb basketball.”
During his previous time at Gardner-Webb, Holt
mann was responsible for the recruiting of 2008 All-
American Thomas Sanders, 2009 ESPN the Magazine
Academic All-American Aaron Linn and 2008 Atlantic
Sun Conference Freshman of the Year Nate Blank.
Holtmann was also was a big part in getting the
Bulldogs to the A-Sun championship game in 2005, a
trend that he wants to get going again.
“Winning is my style of play,” said Holtmann, “We
are going to find a way that our guys are going to com
pete every night... Is the program where it needs to be
right now? No. But I think we can work everyday to
move it in the right direction and oveiitime, it will get
back to that point.”
Aware that his hiring comes a little late into the off
season, Holtmann is meeting each member of the team
individually in an effort to get to know them as they
move into the summer.
Holtmann has also already spoken to Gardner-Webb
signees for the upcoming year and has insured that sev
eral of them will still be playing for the Dawgs.
“It is important, obviously, to keep this team intact,”
said Holtmann. “If there is someone that is intent on
leaving, we can visit that but I’ll be honest, with you.
I’ve had a great feeling over the past couple days... I’ve
had to talk to some of the signees and they are in with
both feet now,”
For anyone concerned that Holtmann, 38, is a bit
young for a head-coaching job their worries should be
put to rest as the Nicholasville, Ky comes with great
recommendations,
“Chris.is a great person and coach,” said Butler Head
Coach Brad Stevens. “His experience, both in coaching
and at Gardner-Webb, will help the program flourish
under his direction.”
Besides Stevens, who’s Butler Bulldogs came within
inches of upsetting Duke for the NCAA championship
this past season, NAIA Hall of Famer Paul Patterson
also spoke Holtmann’s praises.
“I am excited for both Chris Holtmann and Gardner-
Webb University,” said Patterson, Holtmann’s former
coach at Taylor University. “Chris is a bright, energetic,
tireless worker who has been a high achiever his en
tire career. I would expect to see the same from him
in his leadership at Gardner- Webb. His teams will be
hard working, well prepared, and hard to play against
every night. This is a good day for Gardner-Webb Uni
versity.”
The past two seasons, the Ohio Bobcats lead the
MAC conference in points per game, scoring nearly 80
points a contest. While Holtmann looks to instill a fast
paced offense into the Bulldogs system, his first focus
will be defense.
“I feel like 1 have a good base for teaching a defen
sive system,” said Holtmann. “ I’m committed to that
and I believe that can allow you to win games on a con
sistent basis... Offensively I want our guys to play with
some freedom and aggressiveness... I’m excited (about
the high-paced offense) but I have had some success
coaching some really good defensive teams and there is
no question that’s going to be an emphasis that our guys
will feel from day one.”
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
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