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������ʷ head men's basketball coach Dave Holmquist had a season to remember — capturing 900 wins, named and winning the Golden State Athletic Conference Championship.

Holmquist became the eighth collegiate men's basketball coach in the nation to reach 900 wins as Biola defeated Bethesda, 79-60, at Chase Gymnasium in La Mirada on Nov. 25.

The win secures Holmquist another place in history as he joins the 900-win club that includes the likes of Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Don Meyer and Bobby Knight.

After leading his team to its first Golden State Athletic Conference Championship in 14 years, Holmquist was also named 2015-16 NABC NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coach of the Year.

Holmquist credits this lifetime achievement to his teams, not himself.

“I think when you hit a coaching milestone, it really causes you to think about all the players and the teams you’ve had and be very thankful for them because you don't win games without good players,” said Holmquist. “Winning these games is something you share with the all of these people that have played for you because if I didn’t have good players I wouldn’t be having this.”

Holmquist played two seasons as a student at Biola (1972-1974), being named team captain his senior season after transferring from nearby Cypress College.

After graduating from Biola in 1974, Holmquist became head coach at Fresno Pacific College when he was only 24-years-old. He coached three seasons at Fresno Pacific, accumulating a record of 36-43 before returning to his alma mater at the start of the 1978-79 season to become co-head coach with Howard Lyon.

On February 20, 2016, the Biola Eagles beat Menlo College with a 72-62 victory at home, marking the 917th win for Holmquist, who was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2002. Biola held a ceremony honoring Holmquist after the Feb. 20 game with former players, alumni, students, staff, friends and family all in attendance to commemorate the historic accomplishment.

Currently on his 37th season as head coach at ������ʷ, Holmquist reflects on his time at Biola with an immense sense of gratitude.

“I’m just very thankful that I was able to work here all these years. This is a place that you can coach and really enjoy the players you coach and enjoy your surroundings,” said Holmquist.

While at Biola, Holmquist has developed a greater appreciation for the word ‘teammate’ and what that represents in his experience as head coach.

“There is so much emphasis in culture on the individual that it is very nice to be a part of something where you can really emphasize the team and making the group more important than yourself,” said Holmquist.

With 900 wins, there are also some losses, however, Holmquist has learned to take it game by game and to always focus on what is ahead. A key influencer and friend in his life, John Wooden, gave him some great advice that he still holds onto today.

“When the game is over you certainly enjoy it,” said Holmquist. “But you have to let it go quickly because you have to get onto the next game. Wooden used to emphasize that you don’t want to get too up after a win or too down after a loss.”

Coaching was not always easy for Holmquist. Looking back, he remembers a time in his life where he did not know if he would continue.

“My first team, we were 0-10 before we won a game. I remember thinking during that stretch of time ‘Is this really what I want to do?’ My second year I was able to recruit my own team and I really began to enjoy it and by the time I came back here a couple years later I really knew this is what I wanted to do as a career,” said Holmquist.

When Holmquist and his wife of nine years welcomed their two boys into this world, his perspective and coaching philosophy took a shift — in the best way.   

“I was always thankful but I became much more appreciative of being able to work here when they were born. My players have been so good to my kids,” said Holmquist. “It also has helped me to understand that everyone I coach is the most important person in the world to their parents. I mean I fail everyday in some ways I don’t always get this right by any means, but I appreciate the importance of the life of each player even more after having my own kids.”

Holmquist recalls operating better as a coach when he would look at his team as the underdog. He believes that part of coaching is keeping people uncomfortable in a healthy way.

“It helped me to do better as a coach. As soon as I began to feel comfortable, I think I lost something.”

Caelan Tiongson and Dakari Archer, seniors on the Biola men’s basketball team would both agree that Holmquist is the heart of Biola’s men’s basketball team — and not just because of his position as head coach.  

“Holmquist has been instrumental in my life as a young Christian and basketball player and he literally means everything to the Biola basketball program as a whole,” said Tiongson. “Coach is an amazing man who has high character and integrity and expects the same from all his players. He is a great coach, but the man he is off the court is what motivates his players to play so hard for him.”

Both players see it as an honor to play for Holmquist during their time at Biola.

“It’s meant a lot to us for him to reach 900 wins, we feel honored that we helped him achieve this goal … we want to keep moving in a positive direction,” says Archer. “Being apart of his 900th win has just been an honor as a team. We all realize that we are playing for a legend, we just feel lucky to be a part of such a big accomplishment,” said Tiongson.

After securing the GSAC Championship title, the Biola Eagles advanced to the NAIA National Championship in Kansas City, Mo. As a team, Biola men’s basketball became the first team to reach a 30-win plateau in nearly 20 years. It came to an with a round of 16 loss at the 2016 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.

Holmquist could not be more grateful for this historical season.

"I've coached 39 teams and this is one of the most enjoyable teams that I've coached," said Holmquist. "This was a special year. If I could have a year like this every year I coach, I'd coach until I was 90."

Written by Marissa Ray, Public Relations Intern. For more information contact Jenna Loumagne at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.