Head Coach - Rich Holden
 Coach Holden enters his fourth year as the Men’s Basketball Coach at TSJC, and is coming off of a break-through year for the program. Holden’s Trojans won 17 games last season, which ranks as the highest win total for a TSJC Basketball team since the 1998-99 Trojans won that same number of games. Coach Holden began his Trinidad State career in 1992 as head women’s volleyball coach, assistant men’s Basketball coach, director of intramural sports and full time physical education instructor. He has been a steady force behind the recent success in athletics at TSJC. As head volleyball coach, Holden’s teams quietly compiled over 260 wins and a record of 210 wins and 160 losses over the last nine years of his twelve year stint in women’s volleyball. He had the honor of coaching 14 All-Region IX players one All-American and Ten Academic All-Americans. As assistant basketball coach for twelve years at TSJC, Coach Holden was fortunate to play a part in helping Coach Jim Toupal reach his 500th and 600th career milestones in wins. “I have really enjoyed my fifteen years at TSJC.” Says coach Holden, “We have an outstanding tradition of winning basketball at TSJC.” “It was exciting to be part of a group of guys last year that were committed to elevating Trinidad State back to a high level of respect within region IX. I think we got that done; now it’s time to start beating some nationally ranked teams.”
 Coach Holden graduated from high school in the small Northeastern Colorado farming community of Yuma, Colorado in 1976. He was an All-State Basketall player his final season at Yuma and signed a letter of intent to play Junior College basketball for Coach Ron Brillhart (recently inducted into the National Junior College hall of fame) at Nebraska Western College, now known as Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, NE. He finished off a two year career in Scottsbluff being named All-Region IX in 1978. From there, Holden transferred to Northwestern Oklahoma State University located in Alva, OK to play for the Rangers and legendary Coach Dan Hays. He was selected Co-Captain of the men’s basketball team in 1980. Educationally, Coach Holden earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education at NWOSU in 1981 and a Master of Science at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM in 1984. “Playing college athletics was one of the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.” Says Holden, who has also assumed the duties of Athletic Director this year, “The coaches I played for, had a big influence on me and my desire to be part of the college athletic experience.” “I see it as an opportunity to teach young men and women about the complexities of life using the game they play and the ebbs and flows of the season as an object lesson.” Coach Holden is married to Christy who works part time in the TSJC registrar’s office and also teaches in the adult education program. Most of their spare time is spent raising their five children. Three Girls, Shea 21, Emilee 14, and Julia 6, and two boys Drew 18 and Steven 10.
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