Brent Holsclaw enters his 14th season as the longest tenured head coach in Kentucky Wesleyan football history in 2016. Last fall, the former quarterback for the Panthers became the winningest coach in program-history during homecoming weekend, defeating Louisiana College on Oct. 24.
The 2014 season marked the most successful season in Holsclaw's tenure. The Panther's compliled a record tying seven wins in 11 contests, the first 7-4 season since 1999. For his efforts in a milestone win against Virginia-Lynchburg on Nov. 8, Holsclaw was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Week as selected by USA College Football Network on Nov. 13, 2014.
The former record setting quarterback at KWC (1991-93) marks the first Panther football player since the sport was reinstituted 33 years ago to be named head coach and the third alumnus since football first started in 1907.
Holsclaw, 45, returned to Kentucky Wesleyan after serving two seasons as offensive coordinator at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill. He helped lead the Foresters to their first-ever appearance in the 2002 NCAA Division III playoffs with a 9-2 record, the most wins in school history, and their first Midwest Conference Championship since 1983. Under his two-year tutelage, the offensive unit broke all passing records for a single game and season.
Before Lake Forest, Holsclaw spent five seasons at Mercyhurst College, an NCAA Division II school in Erie, Pa. He took over the offensive coordinator role at Mercyhurst prior to the 1998 season. Holsclaw's offenses were among the finest in the nation during his tenure as coordinator. His teams were ranked third (1999), fourth (1998), and 26th (2000) in NCAA Division II for total offense.
Also in 2000, Mercyhurst ranked eighth in passing and the team's starting quarterback finished fifth in the nation for total offense. In both 1998 and 1999, his offenses ranked among the nation's top four in passing.
Prior to taking over the playing-calling duties at Mercyhurst, Holsclaw was the team's quarterbacks (1996) and offensive line coach (1997). The Pittsburgh Steelers, in the ninth round of the 1998 NFL draft, drafted one of his offensive tackles. He also served as head junior varsity coach (1996-97) and NCAA Clearinghouse officer at Mercyhurst.
Before Mercyhurst, Holsclaw spent two seasons at Fairdale High School in Louisville as the school's offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
The Louisville native was a three-year starter for the Panthers from 1991 to 1993 where he broke 18 of 20 total offensive and passing records for a game, season and career. For his career, he threw for 5,149 yards completing 422 of 810 passes for 52.1 percent and 27 touchdowns, and led KWC to their first winning season (6-4) as a senior in 1993.
Today, Holsclaw still holds four school records: most total offensive plays (game); most pass attempts (season); most pass completions (season); and best completion percentage (season). He was the Panthers captain and received the Most Valuable Player Award as a junior and senior. Prior to his final season in the Purple and White, Holsclaw was named preseason All-America by Football Gazette and College Football Preview.
Holsclaw prepped at perennial football powerhouse Louisville Trinity and led the Shamrocks to the 1989 state championship with a perfect 14-0 record as a senior. Following his stellar high school career, he signed with Murray State where he played his freshman season before transferring to Kentucky Wesleyan.
Holsclaw graduated, with a cumulative 3.455 grade point average, from Kentucky Wesleyan in 1993 with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice. He also earned a master of science degree in special education from Mercyhurst in 1998.
Holsclaw is married to the former Lexie Blue of Owensboro. She played basketball at Kentucky Wesleyan before completing her bachelor's degree at Brescia College. They have two sons, Max and Colt.
