May 16, 2020

A message from Coach Holaday:

Gaining a perspective:

Life can change quickly and sometimes those changes are so significant that you are impacted forever. The only thing I can compare the last few months to is 9/11. While that event happened over a few short hours, it impacted our country in so many ways and forever changed us. The devastation, uncertainty and insecurity 9/11 created, while in many ways was much different than COVID 19, it also draws some comparisons. Initially, as our state and country shut down with stay at home orders, we felt fear, insecurity and stress for ourselves and our nation. We came together and witnessed stories of heroism, courage and selflessness. We forgot about politics and we looked out for one another. Now, several weeks later, as a nation we have begun to mirror what happened after 9/11. Our unity and resolve to fight this pandemic together has turned to divisiveness, searching for truth and individually trying to find our perspective and peace. We all want and need our lives to resume some normalcy, and yet we know that in many ways we are forever changed.

Personal impact:

On a personal level, my priorities are the health and well-being of my family, friends, colleagues and my team. I am grateful to so many who are working daily to care for our nation and to give us guidance as we prepare to move forward. I am blessed that my days have been spent with my son who is working from home. I have watched more television in 8 weeks than I had watched in 8 years. I have been introduced to Hulu, Netflix, Marvel Movies, Ozark, Nashville, Waco, Silicon Valley, but no sports. I have also realized that simplifying life comes with some great reminders. Home cooked meals, focused time with your family, sitting on your front porch and engaging in meaningful conversation should be part of our everyday life. I have also learned how much I need personal contact with those I care about.

Program reflections:

From a softball perspective, I have had time to really evaluate my first four years at Washburn. This job can be all consuming so this has been a great time for some reflection. In coaching, at the end of the day, we are often measured by our wins/losses and championships. We have done ok in that category, with winning records in 3 of 4 years and a conference championship. I am proud of the improvements we have made in facilities with our new turf field, dugouts, bleachers, and more. I spent many sleepless nights thinking and worrying about this part of our program and feel so grateful to the boosters and our administration for making this a reality. Watching our new Indoor Facility go up each week is so exciting and will be a game changer! Our team has always been active in our community and have continued this through our BodsCare program. Ultimately though, I think the true measure of this program is about the people who walk through it. As I think about the many alumni I have been able to meet, the players who were in the program when I arrived, those who took a chance on me that first summer by changing their course and coming to Washburn, the Juco girls who decided to make Washburn their last stop and the many high school recruits who have chosen this program, I know we are doing something special. Yes, they are good athletes who help us elevate this program. More importantly, they are terrific young ladies. If you have read their blogs over the past couple of weeks, it is easy to see their core values, their character, their commitment to family and to teammates and their love for Washburn. I am grateful for the parents who have instilled in them - love, support, discipline, respect and guidance, and have given these young ladies a foundation for life. I am indebted to my assistant coaches who are loyal, love the girls and the game, and take great pride and ownership in the success of this program. We have much work still to do and I can’t wait to get back to it, but I am proud of this program and the many people who have walked through it. Thank you for all who have taken the time each day to read our blog entries and hopefully it has allowed you to get a glimpse of the special people who make up this program.