Ricky Holden was named head softball coach at North Carolina Central on July 15, 2026.
A rising star in the coaching profession, Holden comes from Claflin where he led the softball program to the CIAA championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2026. Claflin finished 30-13 overall which is the program’s fourth-best winning percentage since 2010.
Holden guided Claflin to the conference finals in each of his three seasons at the school. During that stretch, Claflin won the CIAA title, finished runner-up twice and claimed a division crown. Under his leadership, multiple players gained all-conference honors and received academic recognition.
Holden succeeded at Claflin after one year as an assistant coach at North Carolina A&T. He assisted with recruiting, player development and program operations during his stint with the Aggies. His coaching career dates back to 2016 on the high school and AAU travel ball levels, where he coached 16-under and 18-under squads.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Holden served as Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Connecting Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on youth mentorship and community engagement.
A Henderson, N.C., native, Holden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Westwood and a master’s degree from North Carolina Central.
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