David Leon Holmes (January 7, 1924 – August 25, 1999) was an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He was the head coach football coach at Eastern Washington State College—now known as
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University (EWU) is a public university in Cheney, Washington. It also offers programs at a campus in EWU Spokane at the Riverpoint Campus and other campus locations throughout the state.
Founded in 1882, the university is ...
—from 1963 to 1967, where his record was 34–13–1. Holmes then went on to the
University of Hawaii
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
(1968–1973), where he still holds the record for highest career winning percentage (.718). Under Holmes, Hawaii never had a losing season. Holmes was a graduate of
Tonasket High School
Tonasket High School is located in Tonasket, Washington about 25 miles south of the Canada–US border and 160 miles west of Spokane. The elementary, middle, and high school are all located on the same property; grades 6-12 share a spacious libra ...
and
Whitworth College
Whitworth University is a Private university, private, Christianity, Christian university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and located in Spokane, Washington. Founded in 1890, Whitworth enrolls nearly 3,000 students and offers more t ...
in
Spokane, Washington
Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Canada ...
. Holmes began and ended his head coaching career as a high school coach in Spokane. Prior to his tenure at Eastern Washington, he was the head coach at
North Central High School, where he compiled a 35–28–4 record. Holmes finished his coaching career at
University High School. His record at University was 60–38–3 from 1974 to 1984. His career prep record was 95–66–7. Holmes died on August 25, 1999 at the age of 75 of an apparent heart attack while fly fishing in Northern Idaho.
Head coaching record
College
References
External links
*
1924 births
1999 deaths
American football guards
Eastern Washington Eagles athletic directors
Eastern Washington Eagles football coaches
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football coaches
Whitworth Pirates football players
High school football coaches in Washington (state)
Sportspeople from Wenatchee, Washington
{{1960s-collegefootball-coach-stub