SEBASTIAN — Sebastian River High School football coach Randy Bethel helped recruit Kenny Holmes to the University of Miami when Holmes was a senior at Vero Beach High School, and now almost two decades later, he is bringing the former defensive end to his staff at Sebastian River.

Holmes, who played seven seasons in the NFL, takes over as the Sharks' new defensive coordinator, replacing Tony Perry, who will remain on staff in a different role.

A former defensive coordinator at Vero Beach for two years, Holmes spent last season as an assistant coach at New Mexico State University but resigned and returned home to Vero Beach about a month ago.

"He's an outstanding football coach," Bethel said. "He's got a wealth of experience to bring to what we are trying to do, and he enhances our program. Any time you can upgrade in anything you are doing, it's best to do that.

"Having him on our staff is an upgrade. We saw the opportunity, and it just worked out."

Bethel, also a Vero Beach High School alumnus, played for the Hurricanes from 1987-90 and was Holmes' host during his official visit at Miami in 1992. The two have remained friends since and talk on the phone often, so when Bethel learned Holmes was not returning to New Mexico State, he invited Holmes to attend a practice and take a look at the Sharks in their spring game against Treasure Coast.

Holmes liked what he saw and accepted when Bethel asked him to join his staff.

"What he's teaching the kids before sending them off to college, helping them in the classroom and helping them transcend into young men, I felt I could learn from what he was doing and I could help the program out at the same time," Holmes said. "The situation with Randy was a perfect opportunity to get back in the area and allow me to coach at a high level and continue to do the things I've learned as a player and coach.

"It just so happened he had the position available to hire a coordinator, and I just happened to come home around the same exact time, so it worked out great for both of us."


(tcpalm.com)

It should come as no surprise that Kenny Holmes will be rooting hard for the New York Giants to win Super Bowl XLVI.

He played for them from 2001-03.

"Absolutely, I'm rooting for the Giants," said Holmes, the former Vero Beach High School and University of Miami standout who spent three years with the Giants after four seasons with the Tennessee Oilers/Titans, "Not only did I play there, but one of their coaches, Jessie Armstead, is a really god friend of mine,"

Holmes and Armstead played together in New York and at UM, where Holmes was Tennessee's first-round pick in the 1997 NFL Draft.

It was with the Titans that Holmes, a starting defensive end, made it to Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

You might remember that game -- especially the final play: The Kurt Warner-led, Dick Vermeil-coached St. Louis Rams escaped with a 23-16 victory when linebacker Mike Jones tackled Titans receiver Kevin Dyson one yard shy of the goal line.

"We were one yard away from going to overtime," Holmes said. "I think about that a lot."

Still, Holmes, the former Vero Beach defensive coordinator who now coaches defensive tackles at New Mexico State, plans to watch Sunday's Super Bowl. And he'll be rooting for the Giants.

At some point, though, his mind will drift back to Jan. 30, 2000 ... and that last play.

"One yard," he said. "I'll never forget it."

That should come as no surprise, either.


(tcpalm.com)

GIFFORD -- Former Vero Beach High School defensive coordinator Kenny Holmes has taken an assistant coaching position with New Mexico State University.

“This is a really great opportunity for me to coach at the next level,” said Holmes.  “Coach Walker wants me to come in and specialize in coaching the kids on pass rush technique, and I can’t tell you how excited I am.  Rushing the passer was what I did best (as a player).”

Holmes, who was a defensive end for the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants in the NFL for a total of seven years, will be a defensive line coach for the Aggies.

New Mexico State went 1-11 last season, with their only win coming against Wyoming.  Their lack of ability to put pressure on the quarterback was evident in its 72-0 loss to Oregon, its 52-7 loss against Texas Tech, its 56-14 loss to Utah, its 40-7 loss to BYU, and its 66-17 loss to TCU – all pass-heavy teams who run the spread offense.

Holmes, 37, tallied 38.5 sacks in the NFL, and was a former first-round draft pick of the Titans after starring at University of Miami.  The Gifford native led Vero Beach High School to the state semi-finals his senior year in 1991, when the first-team all-stater totaled 17 sacks and three defensive touchdowns.

New Mexico State University Head Coach DeWayne Walker was a defensive backs coach for the Giants while Holmes played for the team, and the two crossed paths again in 2004 when Walker was coaching for the Redskins and Holmes was exploring free agency.

“Over the years, Coach Walker and I have remained friends and kept in touch,”  said Holmes.  “He’s going to let me come to the program and do what I do best.”

Vero Beach will remain Holmes’ permanent address, as he will stay in Las Cruces, N.M., during football season only.  He did not comment on his political future, but keeping a Vero Beach address is a strong indicator that Holmes has not given up on obtaining political office in the future.
His son, standout VBHS linebacker Dion Holmes, will not follow him to Las Cruces to play football at this time.  While Holmes hasn’t ruled out the possibility of his son joining the Aggies in the future, he said Dion is undecided on where he will play football next year.

Both Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University want Holmes to join the team as a preferred walk-on, meaning that Holmes would have a chance to earn an athletic scholarship as early as this season if the coaching staff at either school chooses to award him one. 

Two of his former defensive teammates, Lars Koht and Cody Horstman, are attending FIU in the fall on football scholarships.

Click here to order Kenny Holmes’ proCane Rookie Card.



(veronews.com)