One of the well-known college coaches in Minnesota and North Dakota was Al Holmes. Coach Holmes had success wherever and whatever sport he coached, from Michigan Tech to Moorhead State, to Mayville State, to Brainerd Community College, this Moorhead, Minnesota native was successful! Al Holmes also had the rare privilege of being a "pioneer" in the sport of wrestling. He was a member of the first wrestling teams at both Moorhead High School and Moorhead State College. Holmes was a two-time Team Captain of the Moorhead High School football team. Al graduated in l957 from Moorhead State College. His career stops first took him to Frazee High School as a head football coach and wrestling coach from l958 to l961. While at Frazee he started the wrestling program in 1958. He then served as head wrestling and assistant football coach at Michigan Tech University in l961 - 62. From l962 to l973 he was assistant wrestling and football coach and head track coach at Moorhead State University. While at Moorhead State the wrestling team won the NAIA National Championship in l964. This was the first national title at any level for a team from Minnesota. From Moorhead State Al moved on to Mayville State College in North Dakota from l976 to l983. He then served as head football coach and wrestling coach at Brainerd Community College, where he started the wrestling program there as well, from l986 to l993. The Brainerd Community College football team won State Runner-up finishes in l988 and l991. In addition to his coaching Holmes directed the long standing Ottertail Wrestling Campus at Battle Lake, Minnesota for ten years. This was a popular camp at that time. He also managed the District 23 wrestling tournament for twelve years and the Region 6 wrestling tournament for two years. He was also a wrestling official for many years, including two years at the Minnesota state tournament. Coach Holmes long service to athletics has been honored with induction into the Moorhead State Hall of Fame in l980, the Brainerd Community College Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Minnesota Community College Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Andrew McCarty says, "Al was a model wrestler, coach and official. Any career he chose in wrestling, he did it to the extreme." Minnesota Chapter President Spencer Yohe says, "Al was a good one, very good for our youth and a humble person. This type of coach you would want your son or grandson to wrestle for." Al Holmes will long be remembered as one of the legends of college coaching in Minnesota.