Coach finds the perfect opportunity
Assistant By Matt Doyle basketball Kansas sportswriter
Assistant basketball coach Joe Holladay left home and family in Oklahoma to coach at Kansas
Joe Holladay could have stayed as basketball coach and athletic director at Jenks High School in suburban Tulsa, Okla., for the rest of his life and been happy.
But the opportunity to become an assistant coach at Kansas was the only way Holladay would leave Jenks High School.
"It is the University of Kansas, and Roy Williams is the coach," Holladay said. "Opportunity doesn't knock every year. It had to be for the right person at the right school."
Williams and Kansas certainly fit the specifics Holladay was looking for in a college program. And Holladay was certainly the person Williams was looking for to fill the vacancy on his staff created by Kevin Stallings' departure for the head coaching job at Illinois State.
"I've known him since 1981," Williams said. "We recruited Steve Hale, one of his high school players, to North Carolina. At that time I really felt he was an outstanding high school coach. In the 12 years since then, I've seen him work in camps at North Carolina, and he was the director of the camp here last summer. Over those 12 years I've gotten to not only respect him as a coach but to consider him a great friend."
Williams said that when he chooses a staff member, three criteria are necessary: expertise, work ethic and loyalty.
"I don't think there is any doubt that he has all three of those," Williams said. "He's working out wonderfully."
The transition from coaching on the high school level to the college level has been different, but good,
for Holladay. At Jenks, he said, he took two hours a day from his duties as athletic director to coach basketball.
"Now, I can focus all my time and energy to our basketball program here," he said.
Holladay had to make a big adjustment in making this transition. And that was being away from his family.
His wife of 25 years, Roi, and 18-year-old son, Matt remained in Jenks. Matt is a senior at Jenks High School and plays on the Trojan basketball team. Holliday's daughter, Heather, is a senior at the University of Oklahoma.
"It's not the best situation when your family is disrupted," Roi Holladay said. "But it was an opportunity for him to be involved in a quality program with Roy Williams."
Holladay said that he would not have accepted Williams' job offer if it was not for the encouragement that he received from his family.
"It was always his dream to coach on the college level and Kansas was always his favorite team," Matt Holladay said. "When he called home and said he had the job offer, I told him to take it."
Holladay had been able to see his family every other weekend before the start of practice. Roi and Matt were in Lawrence for Late Night on Oct. 29 and 30, and will try to make it to as many games in Lawrence this season as possible.
"We'll try to make the best of it, but my first priority is to watch my son play," Roi said.
Holladay said that he would miss not coaching Matt's senior season,but somehow there's a positive in that.
"I could have been traveling around the last 17 years, but I had 17 years at home with him," Holladay said. "I had the opportunity to coach him the last two
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
Kansas' new assistant coach, Joe Holladay, helps by returning a ball during a team practice at Allen Field House. Holladay replaces Kevin Stallings, who accepted a head coaching position at Illinois State.
years and see every game he ever played in. Thank goodness for VCRs, I'll still get to see him play this year."
Matt said it was different not having his father as his coach. But he knew that his father's decision was the correct one.
"When I turn on the television on a Saturday afternoon and see him, I know he made the right choice," Matt said. "It's a great opportunity for him."
An opportunity Holladay would leave home for.
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW • University Daily Kansan • November 17, 1993