Bob Holland was a two-time Illinois state champion and had a career record of 77-2 for East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois.

He won the 145-pound title as a junior in 1972 and the 155-pound title as a senior in 1973.

Holland won the Big Eight Championship and reached the NCAA Division I finals at 150 pounds as a freshman at Iowa State University in 1974.

He won the Big Eight title at 158 pounds in 1975 and also won the Midlands Championships, defeating National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Members Lee Kemp and Chuck Yagla in the semifnals and finals, respectively.

Holland transferred to Eastern Illinois University and won the NCAA Division II national title in 1979, qualifying him for the NCAA DI tournament where he earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish.

He was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2001.