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On March 26, 2008, the Colorado State women's basketball program took its first step back to national prominence with the promotion of Head Coach Kristen Holt. Holt, who becomes the 10th head coach in the history of the Rams women's basketball program, has been charged with the task of guiding CSU as it transitions back to a position as a prominent player in the Mountain West Conference and nationally. "I am confident that Kristen Holt will provide the best leadership and guidance for our women's basketball program as we move forward," said Director of Athletics Paul Kowalczyk upon announcing Holt's promotion on March 26, 2008. "She has had a wealth of experience and her knowledge of our program is invaluable." While Holt, 39, leads the Rams through a period of change, the transition from assistant coach to head coach is not one with which she is unfamiliar. A 14-year coaching veteran at the NCAA Division I level, Holt brings a unique perspective to the Rams evolution, having been in a similar position early in her career. Following the 2000-01 season, her sixth season as an assistant coach at Radford University in Radford, Va., Holt was named interim head women's basketball coach of the Highlanders' program. Taking over the reins of a team selected in the preseason to finish last in the Big South, Holt guided Radford to an overall 11-16 mark, the school's best mark in the previous three seasons. More impressive, however, was the Highlanders' third-place finish (8-6) in Big South Conference play, a performance that earned Holt recognition as the Big South Coach of the Year. While at Radford, the team won the 1996 Big South Conference tournament championship and participated in the 1996 NCAA tournament, before losing to eventual champion Tennessee in Knoxville. Holt also played an integral role in the development of three all-Big South Conference guards at Radford - Lorrie Mitchell, a first-team performer in 1998 and 1999, Catrice Horton, a first-team performer in 2000 and 2001, and Kim Hairston, a second-team honoree in 1997. Prior to her time at Radford, Holt spent one season as an assistant coach at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she helped to guide the Musketeers to a Midwestern Collegiate Conference championship before moving on to Radford the following season. Upon graduation from Ohio University, Holt served a stint with the Cincinnati Reds from 1993-94, helping the Major League club with group ticket sales and pregame events, before pursuing a full-time career as a coach. Holt originally joined the Rams staff in 2007 as an assistant coach after four seasons at Wichita State University. While at Wichita State, she played a vital role in the development of the Shocker guards. She also was an asset off the court helping to coordinate "Jane's Gems" Kids Club and the women's basketball booster club, High Hoops. A native of Lima, Ohio, Holt graduated in 1993 from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio with both a master's degree and bachelor's degree in physical education. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Bobcats, and was named to the 1988 Mid-American Conference all-freshman team. She also served as OU's team captain from 1990-92. She starred as a three-sport athlete at Lima Bath High School, and as a senior was named first-team all-state in both basketball and softball. During her time on the court for Lima Bath, Holt led the team to its first state championship in school history and she was named MVP of the state tournament, pouring in 29 points in the championship game. Holt is the oldest of three children. Her parents are retired school teachers.
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