Holmgren Living Up To Being 'Something Special'

AKRON - There is nobody who would be more proud about Nolan Holmgren making a Division I commitment than his grandfather Jim Holmgren.

“Before he passed away he was my mentor,” the Hoban senior reflected about his dad’s father who coached for 20-plus years. “He said I was going to be something special. The last thing he said for me to do was stay humble and stay hungry. I’ve always lived by that.”

Holmgren will get the opportunity to be special at the next level with Marshall University following a commitment with the Conference USA school.

“It all started off my freshman year when I went to a camp there,” Holmgren related. “My dad went to college in West Virginia and always told me to explore the country and go outside the state. He took me there and I loved the camp and the players. My sophomore year I went to another camp and I went to one three months ago. Each time I went back I loved it even more.”

Marshall saw the fifth-rated 2022 catcher in Ohio twice this past summer.

“They like my hitting, that’s the main thing,” the 6-0 180-pounder noted. “They also said they saw my potential in catching.”

Behind the plate as well as third base is where Holmgren is expected to fit in at the university in Huntington, West, Va., four hours and 20 minutes from his home in Akron. An Aug. 26 commitment came a day after being presented an offer.

“Catching has gotten a lot more fun as I get older,” Holmgren admitted. “Pitchers are a lot better and it’s more fun when they know what they’re doing.”

The 18-year-old is excited about the chance to catch in a program he chose over a large number of schools under consideration including Akron, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Findlay, Troy (Ala), Western Carolina, Walsh and Kent State.

“Number one I like the conference,” Holmgren explained. “Conference USA is one of the best conferences in the country. I like the coaching staff, the team, the area and that it’s a college town with no pro teams in West Virginia. I also like the atmosphere and the vibe.”

The idea of playing at the D-I level began last fall for the 83rd-ranked 2022 in the state.

“I got my pop time down to 1.90,” Holmgren said of when Division I ball in college started to become a reality. “I’ve always been a good hitter, but my pop time was holding me back. Once I got it down, I knew it could happen.”

Arm strength, receiving and “catching in general” are areas of the game that Holmgren has made strides along with his play at third base. Help has come from many according to Holmgren, with coach Kenny Lin one major influence in his baseball journey.
“I played for him the first time this year but I’ve known him my whole life,” Holmgren said. “He’s been a mentor to me, someone I can always count on.”

Hitting coach Joe Inglett and catching coach Dustin Walter are others that have played important roles for Holmgren, who earned second-team all-state honors in helping Hoban win the state title in Division II last season.

“It was like nothing I ever experienced before,” Holmgren said about playing at state. “It helped me out in so many ways. UC was there, Akron was there and many others. It really helped my confidence. I stayed loose and just tried being myself.”

That mentality has also been beneficial in keeping his baseball dream on path.

“Ever since I started I’ve wanted to play in the pros and play in college,” Holmgren noted. “My dad said once you play D-I baseball you’re better than me.”

The former Potomac State player at the college in Keyser, West Va., is not the only family member happy about the future of Holmgren in the sport, at least in the eyes of the Hoban senior who plans to be a chiropractor after his baseball playing days are over.

“When I made a commitment it felt like 100 pounds was lifted off my shoulders,” Holmgren concluded. “It’s so relieving, one of the biggest things I’ve ever done in my life. I know my grandpa is looking down and smiling.”