July 29, 2004
ATLANTA – Josh Holliday, a former All-American, Academic All-American and assistant coach at Oklahoma State, has joined the Georgia Tech baseball staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, head coach Danny Hall announced Thursday.
Holliday, who spent last season as a volunteer assistant coach on the staff at NC State and helped lead the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament, will work with the Yellow Jackets’ hitters and catchers.
“Josh is an outstanding young coach who grew up in a baseball environment,” said Hall. “I like the fact that he was not only an All-American but also an Academic All-American at Oklahoma State. He brings much more experience than his age might indicate because of being around his dad and the Oklahoma State program as he grew up. He certainly learned a lot by being around great coaches like his dad and Gary Ward, both former head coaches at Oklahoma State.
“We really recruited Josh out of high school, but we eventually lost him to his dad and Oklahoma State. I am very happy to have him on our staff now.”
Holliday, who comes from a baseball family, brings a wide and impressive array of coaching and playing experience to the Georgia Tech program.
The son of former Oklahoma State head coach and current University of Texas pitching coach Tom Holliday, Josh had a distinguished and storied playing career at Oklahoma State from 1996-99, and then coached with the Cowboys from 2000-03. He also played two years of professional baseball, was a standout high school player, and has two years of experience with USA Baseball.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Holliday. “Georgia Tech is a school with great tradition, great coaches and great players. I feel completely comfortable at Georgia Tech and I think it’s a great fit for me and my family. I cannot wait to get started.
“I have known coach Hall since he recruited me out of high school. I’m excited to get an opportunity to work with him 10 years later.”
Holliday capped his four-year playing career at Oklahoma State by batting .290 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs, and leading the Cowboys to the 1999 College World Series. He was drafted in the ninth round by the Toronto Blue Jays in June 1999 and played professionally for two seasons before retiring in the summer of 2000. He served as a student assistant coach at Oklahoma State in 2000 and was named a full-time coach in the fall of 2001.
Holliday ranks among Oklahoma State’s career leaders in numerous categories, including home runs, runs, walks and hit-by-pitches. He fared well off the field as well, receiving conference academic and athletic honors after each of his four seasons in Stillwater. He was named Oklahoma State’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 1999 for his achievements on and off the baseball diamond.
In 1998 Holliday was named first-team All-Big 12 after hitting .309 with a team-leading 18 homers and 60 RBIs. He was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team after leading the Cowboys to wins over Georgia Tech and NCAA finalist Arizona State, and earned second-team National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Super Team plaudits. He was an Academic All-Big 12 honoree with a sparkling 3.69 GPA in the classroom. In 1997 he was a second-team All-Big 12 selection after batting .323 with 14 homers and 60 RBIs.
In his first season at Oklahoma State in 1996, Holliday was the Big Eight Freshman of the Year and also earned Mizuno Freshman All-America and Academic All-Big Eight honors. For the season, he batted .320 with six home runs and 52 RBIs, and was third on the team with 15 doubles and fourth with 73 hits, 62 runs and 291 plate appearances.
Following his career with the Cowboys, The Daily Oklahoman named Holliday to the Oklahoma State University All-Century team. In 2003 he was elected to the Oklahoma State University Baseball Hall of Fame.
Holliday was the USA Today Gatorade Player of the Year for Oklahoma and a Mizuno/Collegiate Baseball High School All-American as a senior at Stillwater High School in 1995. He was a four-time all-district and all-conference selection, and was drafted in the 14th round by the Minnesota Twins in the 1995 June draft. He stood out in the classroom in high school as well, serving as co-valedictorian of his graduating class.
In 1994, following his junior year in high school, Holliday played in the U.S. Olympic Festival, and in 1997, following his sophomore season at Oklahoma State, he competed in the senior Team USA trials.
Holliday’s younger brother, Matt, is an outfielder with the Colorado Rockies while his uncle, Dave, is a scout with the Rockies.
Holliday, 27, married the former Jenny Moore on Dec. 21, 2002. The couple’s first child, Olivia, was born in January, 2004.
