Eddie Holbrook

Eddie Holbrook is an American former college men's basketball head coach. He is best known for his tenure at Gardner–Webb University between 1964 and 1978. He was hired to coach Gardner-Webb when he was just 24-years old,[1] and during his 14-year career there he compiled an overall record of 344 wins[2] to just 67 losses.[3] Holbrook was the coach when the team transitioned from a junior college program to an NAIA school (beginning in 1969).[3] In his first five years, Holbrook's teams won four conference titles, and two regional titles in 1968–'69 while earning an invitation to play in the National Junior College Athletic Association championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas[4] (a first for any GW team). Eight of his players became All-Americans while five of them went onto careers in the National Basketball Association.[3] In 1973–'74, Holbrook's Runnin' Bulldogs won 23 straight games before losing in the NAIA post-season tournament to West Georgia 116–101.[5] to By the end of his time at Gardner–Webb he had led the Runnin' Bulldogs to seven 20-win seasons and an additional four 30-win seasons.[3] Of his 14 teams, 12 finished the season with national top-10 rankings.[3] In February 2015, the school renamed their home basketball court the "Eddie Holbrook Court."[3][6] While coaching GW, Holbrook earned eight coach of the year honors, and her earned the reputation of creating players who embodied mental and physical fortitude.[7] He took two of his teams to the NAIA National Post-Season Tournament[8] including a final four appearance in 1972[9] (the school's first year with senior college status), and the 1971–'72 Runnin' Bulldogs averaged 104.3 points per game during that season.[10] In 1976–'77 season, Holbrook's squad scored over 100 points eighteen times.[11]

Eddie Holbrook
Holbrook in 1971
Playing career
1959–1962Lenoir–Rhyne
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1964–1978Gardner–Webb
1978–1982Furman
Head coaching record
Overall408–113
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
SoCon regular season (1980)
SoCon tournament (1980)
Eddie Holbrook honored by naming of Gardner-Webb basketball court in his honor in 2015.
Eddie Holbrook (2015)
Eddie Holbrook 2015

Holbrook then coached Furman University's men's basketball team from 1978 to 1982. In just his second season he led the Paladins to the conference regular season and tournament championships, resulting in a berth into the 1980 NCAA tournament.[12] He retired from coaching after four seasons at the school.[12]

In 1993, Holbrook returned to GWU and served as a special assistant to the president and Vice President for Development and Community Relations before taking on a similar role at Cleveland Community College.

Prior to coaching, Holbrook played college ball for Lenoir-Rhyne (Hickory, N.C.). During his time there, the team won two conference championships, and two NAIA runner-up finishes. [13]

Hollbrook has been inducted into the Lenoir-Rhyne and Gardner-Webb Halls of Fame and was a major force in bringing the American Legion World Series to Shelby, N.C.

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (Junior college) (1964–1969)
Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (NAIA) (1969–1978)
1969–70 Gardner–Webb 18–7
1970–71 Gardner–Webb 20–4
1971–72 Gardner–Webb 28–5
1972–73 Gardner–Webb 18–7
1973–74 Gardner–Webb 25–3
1974–75 Gardner–Webb 23–3
1975–76 Gardner–Webb 27–4
1976–77 Gardner–Webb 30–3
1977–78 Gardner–Webb 23–3
Gardner–Webb: 343–65 (.841)
Furman Paladins (Southern Conference) (1978–1982)
1978–79 Furman 20–99–32nd
1979–80 Furman 23–714–11stNCAA First Round
1980–81 Furman 11–168–86th
1981–82 Furman 11–167–96th
Furman: 65–48 (.575)38–21 (.644)
Total:408–113 (.783)

References
  1. Richardson, Darcy G. (2019-03-21). "Gardner-Webb's long road to the Big Dance". The Fanatic. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  2. Staff, S. I. "THE BEST OF THE REST". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  3. "Gardner–Webb Dedicates Eddie Holbrook Court Thursday Night". GWUsports.com. Gardner–Webb University. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  4. Walker, Richard. "HONORING THEIR LEGACY". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  5. Richardson, Darcy G. (2019-03-21). "Gardner-Webb's long road to the Big Dance". The Fanatic. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  6. "GWU Honors Career of Former Coach Eddie Holbrook". gardner-webb.edu. Gardner–Webb University. February 27, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  7. "Eddie Holbrook (2004) – Hall of Fame". Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  8. "Eddie Holbrook (Former Head Coach)". Coaches Database. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  9. Walker, Richard. "HONORING THEIR LEGACY". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  10. "Eddie Holbrook (1991) – Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame". Gardner-Webb University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  11. Richardson, Darcy G. (2019-03-21). "Gardner-Webb's long road to the Big Dance". The Fanatic. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  12. "Eddie Holbrook Coaching Record". sports-reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  13. "Eddie Holbrook (2004) – Hall of Fame". Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
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