Holava Named Interim Athletic Director

DEFIANCE, OHIO -- Defiance College is pleased to announce the promotion of associate athletic director and head softball coach, Jodie Holava, as the interim athletic director for the 2017-18 school year.

Holava became assistant athletic director in the summer of 2014, before her promotion to associate athletic director in April 2017.

"We welcome Coach Holava and her leadership and passion for athletics," President Richanne C. Mankey said of the hire. "She understands our vision as an institution and will take the steps necessary to move our athletic programs forward."

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to serve the Defiance College community in an even bigger role," Holava said about her new position. "My passion for this school and the success of our student-athletes should lead to a smooth transition and I'm happy to help enhance the student-athlete experience from the athletic director position."

She will also remain head softball coach for 2018, where she enters her 13th season and is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 229 career victories. She is also the reigning Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after DC finished the season 25-17, placing third in the regular-season standings and qualifying for the HCAC Tournament. Holava was named HCAC Coach of the Year for her team's efforts last season, her first such honor.

Holava has coached the Yellow Jackets to three HCAC titles in her 12 seasons, advancing to the NCAA Regionals in each of those campaigns. She has also coached two HCAC Woman of the Year honorees in Justine Johnston (2009) and Megan Warren (2017). 

The Yellow Jackets have also excelled academically under Holava, boasting 41 HCAC Academic All-Conference award winners, 24 NFCA All-Academic scholars, and nine NFCA Academic All-Americans.  The program also has four CoSIDA Academic awards, including a First-Team All-America selection to Renee Steffen in 2006-07.

Holava joined the DC family in 2006, after spending the 2004-2005 softball season at Notre Dame College of Ohio as an assistant softball coach. 

Coach Holava earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Mount Union in athletic training, with a minor in health and secondary education. A four-year starter for the Raiders, she was a two-time first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree and twice named to the All-Central Region first team.