Marshall University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Backs
- Email:
- holleyjar@marshall.edu
- Phone:
- ----
Jarred Holley was hired as Marshall’s defensive backs coach by head coach Tony Gibson in January 2025.
Holley comes to Marshall after spending last season at Abilene Christian where he worked primarily with safeties.
Holley began his coaching career at Arizona St. University in (2015 – 2017) working for Coach Keith Patterson as a graduate assistant for two years and an analyst his last season. He has a strong background of working with defensive backs and the special team’s units.
Holley spent the 2023 season at James Madison University, where he coached the cornerbacks. After an incredible season of 11-2, James Madison was able to reach the Armed Forces bowl in December. This was the universities first bowl game in school history. He coached and guided outstanding players like D’Angelo Ponds, who was a Freshman All-American and All -Conference Corner Chauncy Logan.
In 2021 and 2022 he coached the Defensive Backs at the University of North Texas. Working hand and hand with iconic Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett, Holley guided a pair of corners to All-Conference USA status in his first two seasons. Standouts Ridge Texada earned first team honors and Deshawn Gaddie taking home honorable mention. His top cornerback duo combined for 27 pass break-ups and 3 interceptions in 2022. In his first season at North Texas, they finished 5th in the conference in pass defense and the defense posted the biggest improvement of any FBS program in 2021. North Texas reached the Conference USA Championship game in 2022 and earned berths to the Frisco Bowl in each of his two seasons with the Mean Green.
Prior to North Texas, Holley was the Pass Game Coordinator and Safeties coach at Albany University in New York (2018 – 2020). During the 2019 season Holley and the coaching staff lead the Albany Great Danes to its first FCS playoff win in school history.
Prior to coaching Holley attended the University of Pittsburgh where he was a 4 year starter at safety and a 2 year captain. Making a major impact in the Big East Conference, The Big East All-Conference safety finished his career with 244 tackles, 11 interceptions, 13 pass break ups and a pair of fumble recoveries. Off the field he was named on the Big East All-Academic Team twice.
He earned 2 bachelors degree from the University of Pittsburgh, with one in communications and rhetoric in 2011 and another in administration of justice in 2013.
