LLOYD HOLM
From the Re-Echo

Lloyd Holm was the St. Louis Park basketball coach from 1949 until 1977. During this time, his teams won four Lake Conference championships, four District 18 championships, three times runners up, one regional championship and one state championship. Lloyd attributed this remarkable record to having the right players on his teams but his peers thought the coaching of his teams was a big factor and inducted him into the Minnesota Coaches Hall of Fame. When his teams played they won. When he retired in 1977 he had won a total of 531 games and lost only 234.

Lloyd Holm’s job at St. Louis Park was a year-round job. In addition to coaching the senior high basketball teams, he also oversaw the elementary physical education programs. He planned and organized Saturday programs for students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. They learned the fundamentals of basketball. The age groups played each other. The program increased interest and enthusiasm and helped to provide a feeder system for the junior and senior high teams.

Lloyd graduated from Harmony, Minnesota High School and from there attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He wanted to play baseball and basketball, and Luther’s programs rated with the University of Minnesota in addition the college was only 25 miles from his home. Although his family supported him, money was never plentiful. His brother had to lend him a suit to practice-teach his senior year and for graduation. He also had to share this suit with his roommate. The roommate wore the suit to practice-teach in the morning, and Lloyd wore it in the afternoon. When Lloyd graduated from Luther he still owed the school $80.00. Even though he had a job, the school would not release his records so he could get his teaching certificate. He had to borrow the money so he could go to work.

Holm first coached at Eyota, MN and then moved to Benson MN. He was then offered a job coaching in Red Wing. In Red Wing his teams won state championships in 1940 and 41. When he returned from service in 1945, he was asked to coach at Duluth Denfield. In 1947, while competing in the strong Iron Range league, they beat Ely in the state tournament and became state champions. With his success at Denfield, Holm was a candidate to replace Dave McMillan at the University of Minnesota. Instead he came to St. Louis Park. Lloyd Holm is the only coach in Minnesota to take four teams to the state tournament and go home with two championships. He died in December 2005 at the age of 93.

See also Sports in the Park.

 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.