By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State women's lacrosse has rounded out its coaching staff as CJ Holder will be joining the Owl program as an assistant coach, KSU head coach Laura Maness announced on Thursday. Holder comes to KSU after serving as the head coach at both Hanover College and Augustana College. In addition,
Bailey Wilson, who just finished her collegiate career with the Owls, will serve as a student assistant coach.
"I'm thrilled to announce the hiring of CJ to our staff," said Maness. "She was a very accomplished Division I athlete at UMBC and has since been a head coach at two different programs before joining us here at Kennesaw State. Her tenure in coaching as well as her playing experience will raise the bar for KSU lacrosse. For the first time in program history, my entire staff has head coaching experience. I am looking forward to the future for KSU as I believe with the help of CJ, we will reach new program heights."
"I'm excited to join the Owl Nation and am thankful to Coach Maness for giving me this opportunity," said Holder. "It's a great lacrosse program with a lot of exciting things ahead. Personally, I am thrilled to be back into the world of Division I lacrosse."
Holder spent seven years at the helm of the Augustana College women's lacrosse program in Rock Island, Ill., and ranks second all-time in school history with 43 career victories. She guided the Vikings to one regular season championship with a perfect 6-0 mark in the CCIW while earning conference Coach of the Year honors. Over her seven years with the Vikings, she coached two all-region selections, two CCIW Players of the Year and 12 all-conference honorees.
Her first head coaching position was with Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana, where she started the Panthers program from scratch. Hired in June 2013, the Panthers began varsity competition in 2015. She coached four all-conference performers while also being instrumental in establishing the NCAA Division III Ohio River Lacrosse Conference. Holder's first coaching position was as a graduate assistant at Stevenson University from August 2011 to June 2013.
She was a four-year standout at UMBC, where she earned all-conference honors before receiving her bachelor's degree in biological studies in 2011. Holder also received a master's degree in forensic studies from Stevenson University in 2013, where she was a graduate assistant coach for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Wilson will be a student assistant coach for the Owls after two outstanding seasons on the field for the Black and Gold, including this past year in which she became the second player in team history to earn Honorable Mention All-American honors (
Inside Lacrosse,
USA Lacrosse Magazine). A native of Acworth, she finished the 2023 season ranked second in the nation with 9.59 draw controls per game, while her 163 for the season set a new KSU school mark, topping the previous mark of 155 set by
Siena Gore in 2022. Wilson was also an All-ASUN First Team selection this past season.
Wilson first came to KSU after three years at Furman and started 35 games over her two seasons. She is currently working towards her graduate degree in architectural engineering
"Bailey was a huge part of our success on the field for the last two seasons," said Maness. "Her teammates always recognized her for hard work and leadership. I am excited to add her to the staff as a student assistant. She has strong relationships with the team, and she can continue to pour into her former teammates so that they can continue to grow as players. Bailey bleeds Black and Gold and her enthusiasm on the field is contagious."
