Jason Holder moves up at Springfield
Springfield has named assistant coach Jason Holder to replace the departed Daryl Arroyo as head coach. Holder has been an assistant at Springfield for four years and was the head coach at Plymouth State for two years prior to his time at Springfield. The New Hampshire native competed for Boston University in college, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2003. See the press release below.
Jason Holder Named Head Wrestling Coach, Faculty Member, at Springfield College
Springfield, Mass. – August 11, 2011 – Jason Holder has been named the new head wrestling coach and an assistant professor within the Springfield College Department of Physical Education and Health Education, according to Springfield College Director of Athletics Cathie Schweitzer.
Holder’s appointment is effective immediately. He replaces Daryl Arroyo, who has been the head wrestling coach at Springfield College for the past 21 years, and was also the Department Chair of Physical Education for the past year. Arroyo is moving on to become the Director of Athletics at Alfred State College in Alfred, N.Y.
A native of Danville, N.H., Holder has been Arroyo’s top assistant for the past four years at Springfield College, where he has served not only as an assistant wrestling coach, but also as an adjunct professor. Springfield College’s wrestling record in that time frame was 47-32 for a .595 winning percentage. SC was also the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) champion last season.
His association honored Holder by naming him the NEWA Assistant Coach of the Year for 2010-11.
“Jason has done a great job as an assistant coach with our wrestling program,” said Schweitzer, “and we are thrilled to have him step up to a leadership role for us. He has demonstrated great knowledge of the sport and tremendous passion. We feel he will maintain the strong set of values as well as the winning tradition created by Doug Parker and continued by Daryl Arroyo. We are excited about his future as head coach.”
As an assistant coach, Holder was involved in all aspects of the Springfield College wrestling program. From conducting practice sessions, to recruiting, to organizing championships at SC, such as the 2009 NEWA Championships, the 2010 NEWA Dual-Meet Championships, and the NEWA JV Wrestling Championships from 2008 through 2011.
“It is a true honor to be named the next head wrestling coach at Springfield College,” said Holder. “I learned a great deal under the tutelage of Coach Arroyo and hope to maintain the tradition and success-level that both he and Coach Parker attained. I feel good about our returning competitors and anticipate another good season.”
Jason previously served as varsity head wrestling coach at Plymouth State University for two years from 2005 through 2007. His teams finished seventh and eighth (of 15) in the NEWA end-of-season standings.
Holder had an outstanding career as a wrestler at Boston University, from where he received his bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 2003, and his master’s in education, health, PE, and coaching in 2004. Holder is presently working towards his doctorate in physical education with a concentration in teaching and administration.
At Boston University, Holder was a four-year starter and four-year captain of the wrestling team. He was a three-year All-Conference athlete, and an NCAA Division I National Qualifier in 2003. He was also a part of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at BU from 2001 through 2003.
Prior to BU, Holder wrestled at Timberlane High School in New Hampshire, where he was a three-time NH State Champion, a two-time New England Champion, and a high school national All-American.
In addition, from 1997 to the present, Holder worked in various capacities – as a mental health counselor, a trip leader, and a camp counselor — at the Adventurelore Programs in Danville, N.H.