Holley Added to Football Staff

ABILENE – Abilene Christian Head Coach Keith Patterson turned to a familiar and trusted face when he hired Jarred Holley as the assistant coach for safeties.
 
Holley came to Abilene from James Madison, where he coached cornerbacks in 2023 and helped JMU reach the Armed Forces Bowl. He previously coached defensive backs at North Texas from 2021-22 and at the University of Albany from 2018-2020. He was a defensive analyst, graduate assistant for the secondary and special teams and spur graduate assistant at Arizona State from 2015-17.
 
"We go way back," Patterson said of Holley. "Jarred played for me at the University of Pittsburgh and he's one of the smartest football players that I've ever coached. You could just tell then; he's very diligent about the way that he goes about his business and his preparation. I knew that he was going make a good young coach. We hired him as a GA at Arizona State and he was mentored by some of my own mentors. He's been involved in helping get North Texas back on track over there. He was part of the James Madison undefeated team. He has a tremendous upside in this profession."
 
He coached a freshman All-American and two All-Conference honorees at JMU and three All-Conference picks at UNT.
 
"I'm fired up to be here at ACU," Holley said.  "I know what Coach Patterson stands and the wealth of knowledge that he brings a football program.

After a career as a four-year starter at the University of Pittsburgh, Holley signed a free-agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
 
Holley got a chance to work with the Wildcats in spring practice and is excited about the unit.
 
"I think we have a bunch of hungry guys here that want to win," said Holley. "I think our job as coaches is coaching our guys and harp on the little things each and every day so we can obtain and reach all the goals that we want to reach. The biggest thing as a group is driving and staying together and just building these guys up and pouring into them."