A native of Bessemer, Aryvia Holmes, head football coach at McAdory High School, grew up with his large family and extended relatives in Brighton and Bessemer. A wide receiver at Midfield High School, where he graduated in 1999, he went on to play wide receiver for Samford University.
Coach Holmes graduated from Samford in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. One of the nicest men you will ever meet, this soft-spoken leader has been the head football coach at McAdory High School since 2021. A well-respected man, he and his family attend Green Valley Church in Hoover.
A player’s coach, Coach Holmes loves spending time with his family and also enjoys hunting and playing golf. A highlight of his career has been the number of young men attending college on football scholarships. To date, 39 student athletes are playing football at the college level.
What is your game plan?
Coach Holmes: The game plan is always to win. Win in athletics, and win in life. I define winning as being significant, not just successful.
What are your duties as a football coach?
Coach Holmes: As a football coach I am a counselor, mentor, teacher, cleaner, facilitator, decision maker and father figure.
What is most important to you as a coach?
Coach Holmes: Lasting relationships are by far the most important. Building a bridge for my kids to enter adulthood with a game plan is equally as important.
What is your favorite meal?
Coach Holmes: I really enjoy Italian food, especially spaghetti and meatballs, chicken Alfredo, lasagna and a green salad with ranch dressing. For dessert I enjoy a red velvet cake.
What is your relationship with the players?
Coach Holmes: I am a player’s coach and very demanding, but my players know that I love them. Good relationships have been the key to our success.
What is your favorite movie?
Coach Holmes: Being a football coach, it’s hard to go against Rudy and Remember the Titans.
What is an essential leadership requirement for a head football coach?
Coach Holmes: As far as I am concerned, discipline and organization are essential.
