Carroll University Athletics

Garren Holley was named Carroll's Defensive Coordinator in July of 2024 after serving the previous three as the team's Special Teams Coordinator. He also serves as Carroll's Student-Work Director and Community Culture Liaison.

The 2025 season will mark Holley's fifth with the Carroll University football program. He has coached multiple All-Conference players on the Pios' defensive line and multiple All-Conference and All-Region Special Teams players.

Holley came to Carroll from the Munich Cowboys of the German Football League, where he served as the Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. During his tenure with the Cowboys, the team became a league contender, including a playoff appearance in 2018. In Holley’s seven years with the Cowboys, and two previous seasons in 2013 and 2014 as Defensive Coordinator, he led the team to three playoff appearances, with nine players earning All-League All-Star honors, and several others earning collegiate scholarships in the United States. Holley also served as Defensive Coordinator for the women’s team and consultant for the youth programs. In 2018, Holley was named 2018 Seniors Coach of the Year by the American Football Verband Bayern.
 
Holley’s experience extends into the NAIA at Presentation College in South Dakota as the Defensive Backs Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Academic Advisor. In 2016, Presentation had a 7-3 overall record. The school ranked in the top 10 in NAIA Division I in four major categories, as well as top five in total defense, pass defense, and pass defense efficiency. As an academic advisor, the Saints program recorded the highest team GPA, the highest number of student athletes above a 3.0, and the highest number of student athletes receiving recognition by the conference and nationally.
 
In summer 2015, Coach Holley was the Defensive Coordinator for the Wasa Royals, in the 1st Division of the Finnish American Football League. Holley’s team finished the season 7-2 and was the top ranked defense in all major categories. In 2012, coach Holley spent one season at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota as a Graduate Assistant working with defensive backs and the video coordinator. In 2011, Holley was an assistant football coach at the Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he coached the wide receivers and defensive backs and coordinated the special teams. Holley was also the Defensive Coordinator of the Junior Varsity team.
 
Coach Holley attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. He spent three years as a player and two years as a student assistant coach for the program, working with the defensive backs. Holley graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Holley is originally from Independence, Missouri and attended Truman High School.

Holley and his wife Josefine Sjoeblom currently reside in Waukesha, Wis. with their two children, Kasper and Freyja.