MONROE, La. – With more wins than any other coach in the history of ULM athletics, Rosemary Holloway-Hill announced her retirement on Friday after 30 years at the helm of the softball program.
“ULM has been my life. I am very, very blessed to have been given the opportunity to be here. I wish I could name all the people who believed in me or helped me along the way, but the list of role models would be endless. There have been so many people and friends who have been instrumental in my life ever since I was a graduate assistant here and I never looked back. It has been so much more than just softball to me. God sent me here and I came as a mentor to student-athletes and wanted to make a difference in people's lives. All of the wins and success at ULM are a credit to the high-level players and staff that have come here. I couldn't have accomplished anything without them. I've learned and grown here over the years just like the student-athletes and the amount that we've been able to accomplish means everything to me. The people here will forever be a part of my ULM family,” said Holloway-Hill.
With numerous accolades to her resume including Louisiana Coach of the Year, Southland Coach of the Year and South Region Coach of the Year, Holloway-Hill has won conference championships and has guided the Warhawks to the NCAA Tournament. Her final tally comes to an astounding 749 victories as head softball coach, and 74 of her student-athletes were named to All-Conference teams.
“I want to thank Rosemary for her years of service and dedication to ULM student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Brian Wickstrom. “Rosemary has been a great ambassador for the athletics department.”
In 1984, Holloway-Hill began her journey at ULM when she took the role as assistant coach. The following season, she was named the fifth head coach in program history.
In her first two years as head coach, Holloway-Hill led the Warhawks to back-to-back Southland Tournament Championships in 1985 and 1986. She immediately turned ULM into a serious Southland Conference contender. By the time it departed the league in 2006, Holloway-Hill had posted 238 victories, the most by any school in that league.
Holloway-Hill's most dominant team was the 1997 squad. Led by All-American pitcher Sarah Dawson, the team won was ranked 18th in the nation, won the SLC championship, registered a 47-12 record and reached the NCAA tournament before being defeated by eventual national runner-up UCLA. Holloway-Hill received national recognition following the season. The accolades she received included Southland Conference Coach of the Year, Louisiana Coach of the Year and South Region Coach of the Year.
The Warhawks had another historic run in 2008 when they reached the championship of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. ULM knocked off three different programs before facing 16th-ranked UL-Lafayette.
ULM had a very similar run this past season where it eliminated three schools in the 2014 SBC Championships. The Warhawks reached the semi-finals and were one of just three schools remaining in a league that tallied the fourth-best RPI in the country.
In addition to being the head softball head coach, Holloway-Hill also coached volleyball during the beginning of her ULM career from 1984-93. Her 159 career victories is the most of any coach in the program's history, and she was on the bench for all five of the team's winning seasons.
STATEMENT FROM HOLLOWAY-HILL
With mixed emotions, I announce my retirement from ULM as the head softball coach. I reflect back on what an amazing ride the past 31 years have been. I would first like to thank former President Dr. Dwight D. Vines, the late Benny Hollis, (athletic director) and Dr. Mary Jo Murray (former head softball/volleyball coach) for entrusting in me the development and success of the volleyball and softball programs. While at then, Northeast Louisiana University, I was also given the opportunity to gain a Masters degree in Education.
Thank you to Nick Bruno and wife Linda for their support and friendship, as well as Brian Wickstrom, who I believe is taking ULM towards a higher level.
To ALL the current and former student-athletes who chose NLU/ULM to continue their education and career: I THANK YOU for representing the university and program in such a manner to define EXACTLY what it means to be a Indian/Warhawk.
Very few people truly love what they do, and over the past 31 years, I have been able to wake up every morning and serve the university that I love.
In my retirement, God is directing my path to walk away with lasting memories to carry on into the next chapter of my life.
May God Bless!
Sincerely,
Coach Rosemary Holloway Hill
