Howard Holland Credits AAMU Coaches for Much of Her Success

AAMU alumna Lisa Howard Holland was recently named the Alabama Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) also named Howard Holland the Southeast Sectional 3 Boys Track & Field Coach of the Year. Howard Holland has been the coach of the boys and girls track team at Anniston High School for 19 years.

“Going into coaching, I never thought about accolades," she said. "I just wanted to make a difference in young people's lives the way my coaches made in my life.”

A native of Jamaica, where she developed her love for running, Howard Holland migrated to the U.S. as a teenager and graduated from high school in Detroit. She was a standout athlete in the 800m to 3200m as well as in cross-country, and earned a track & field and soccer scholarship at AAMU.  

“Alabama A&M was a melting pot. I met friends from countries all over the world, Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe,” she says. “We had different backgrounds, but the same goals in terms of graduating and making a difference for our University and making our families proud. The commonalities we had was not just in sports, but in family, unity and school pride. We knew we were Bulldogs and we were proud to let others know it too.”

Howard Holland was a member of AAMU’s 2003 Championship Soccer Team as a midfielder and defender. She was also named All-Conference in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the 3000m, 5000m, and cross country. She has high praise for AAMU faculty, staff, her former roommates, and her mentors.

“Being on The Hill led to a lot of meaningful and lasting relationships starting with my coaches, Coach Seals, Coach Damion and Coach Carlos. I played soccer for Coach Frank. I didn’t know much about the sport, but I could run and I was tough so he had me playing (laughing). I would leave cross country practice and go to soccer practice. My strength and conditioning coach was Coach Lee, he was one of the greatest motivators to me. He would push me, and yes, I would cry. He would say, ‘Lisa, do you want to cry or do you want to win?’ When I first started my career at Anniston High, Coach Lee would send me strengthening workouts.”

Howard Holland earned her physical education K-12 degree in 2004 and was a graduate assistant at AAMU before joining Anniston High School as a physical education teacher and head track & field coach. She also went on to complete her Master of Science in Education at Jacksonville State University. Her coaching accomplishments include:

• Teams competing in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) State Championship every year
• Back-to-Back Boys 4A State Track & Field Championships 2022 & 2023, both wins were the first in the school’s history
• Girl’s Team won the 4X100 relay and 4X400 Relay in 2023
• Coached athletes that set the 4A Alabama High School Athletic Association 4x1 Relay Record

Howard Holland is also the department chair for Physical Education, Driver’s Education, and Health at Anniston High School, and was named the Anniston High School Teacher of the Year in 2011 and the Anniston City Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2012.

The AAMU alumna says she is very passionate about teaching, traveling and coaching and takes pride in attending class every day and setting a good example for young people.

“When an athlete calls just to check on you or shares special occasions with you, it’s special. I feel like I am answering my calling and making that difference like my coaches made in my life.”

(Photo L-R) Senior Jaylen Lewis, 100 and 200-meter state champion and member of the winning 4x400 relay team and Coach Howard Holland