At the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, Mr. Holland ‘05 will move on from Belmont Hill to join the faculty at BB&N. Since joining the faculty in 2009 after graduating from Amherst, Mr. Holland has worked in admissions, taught history, and coached varsity soccer, inspiring students and players alike. A Belmont Hill alum himself, Mr. Holland has always had a special connection to this school, and it has shown in everything he has done here.
In Mr. Holland’s first years at Belmont Hill, he worked in the admissions department, eventually becoming the Associate Director of Admissions. After more than a decade in admissions, Mr. Holland made the switch to the history department, where he taught History I, Facing History, and AP Human Geo, courses that got students thinking about the past and how it relates to the world today. Former students have described Mr. Holland’s classes are “engaging and exciting.” Mr. Holland has a way of making history feel interesting and important, and for many students, he is the first person they go to with questions about history or writing.
A former captain of Belmont Hill’s varsity soccer team, Coach Holland spent 17 years as an assistant coach alongside Señor Montoya, leaving a significant impact on his players. Senior and 4-year Varsity soccer player Adonai Samuel reflected on how “Coach taught us how to become a family more than just a team. A big reason for our success this year is all the work he did in years prior, and letting the players run the show. Holland was also always there to talk to us about any problems we had in the classroom or on the field if we ever needed advice.” Coach Holland pushed his players to work hard and held the team to a high standard every season. Max Christiano said, “I can not overstate how much Coach Holland did for me both as a soccer player and young man. His dedication to making sure everyone felt heard is what makes him special.”
As an alum, Coach Holland knows what it was like to be a student-athlete here. Asked for his favorite memory of Holland, Mr. Bracken, who both played for him and coached with him, recalled: “Before our game against Brooks in 2021, when Brooks was the best team in the league and we were midtable, Mr. Holland gave an inspirational pre-game speech to the boys about his experience playing in high school against Charlie Davies and an incredible Brooks team, and how our team had everything in its hands and just needed to go out and play our game with no pressure. We won 3-2, under the lights on their parents’ weekend, even with our best forward out for most of the game with a concussion.”
Though departing Belmont Hill’s varsity squad, Mr. Holland is not leaving the world of varsity coaching; starting next fall he will begin as head coach of BB&N’s Varsity soccer team. “Mr. Holland is more than deserving of his job as head coach at BB&N. I am sad to see him go for all he has done for me on both campuses. I wish him the best of luck.” Tiernan ‘28. We’ll see him soon though, as come fall, Mr. Holland will inaugurate his BB&N coaching career with a home opener under the lights against his alma mater, Belmont Hill.
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Mr. Holland this spring. From the classroom to the soccer pitch, he gave a lot to this school, and Belmont Hill will miss him greatly. The Panel wishes him the best at BB&N and thanks him for all his contributions on the Hill. Thank you, Mr. Holland.
