Former Major League pitcher and coach Darren Holmes joined the North Greenville University baseball staff in 2025 as the program’s pitching coach.
“It’s not every day that you get to add a World Series Champion with more than 20 years of Major League experience to your coaching staff,” said Head Coach Landon Powell. “We are fired up to have Darren join our staff at NGU. Not only does he possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in the game of baseball, but he is a man of strong faith who will disciple these athletes and help develop them both on and off the field.”
Holmes brings an extensive professional résumé to Tigerville. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984 out of high school and spent six years in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut in 1990. Over the course of a 13-year career, Holmes pitched for the Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies—where he served as the franchise’s first closer—New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves.
Following his playing career, Holmes transitioned into coaching. He began at the high school level in 2013 as the pitching coach at A.C. Reynolds High School before returning to Major League Baseball in 2014 as a biomechanics pitching consultant with the Atlanta Braves. In 2015, he joined the Colorado Rockies as bullpen coach, a role he held through the 2019 season.
Holmes later served as assistant pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles from 2020 through 2022, helping develop a young pitching staff that contributed to the club’s resurgence, including a 101-win season and an American League East title in 2023. Most recently, he worked as bullpen coach for the Chicago Cubs during the 2024 season.
“I am thrilled to begin my time at NGU as pitching coach,” said Holmes. “I value the faith-based environment and enjoy working with student-athletes who are eager to learn. I’m confident that my experiences as both a player and coach will help equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed at the collegiate level and beyond. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited for what lies ahead.”
“To have Darren working with our pitchers on a daily basis, I truly believe our staff will maximize its potential and position this team to compete for another championship,” Powell added.
