Sam Holmes is entering his first season as head coach of the Francis Marion University women's soccer program.

Holmes comes to FMU from Limestone University where he has been the head coach for the past six seasons.  He owns a 71-27-4 coaching mark and guided the Saints to three NCAA Division II National Tournament berths (2017, 2018, 2022).

Prior to this season, four of his five squads at Limestone earned United State Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards.  His squads produced a pair of All-Americans and 13 All-Region selections.

He was an assistant coach on the Limestone staff for three seasons before taking over the head coaching reigns in 2017.

He also served as an assistant coach at Minot State University in North Dakota for four seasons, during which time the Beavers registered 42 victories.

A native of Bexley, Kent, England, he earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Flagler College in 2008 and a master’s degree in management from Minot State in 2012.

Holmes is the seventh head coach in the history of the 28-year-old program.  Francis Marion earned a pair of NCAA Division II National Tournament berths in 1998 and 2000.  The Patriots competed as NCAA Division I independents from 2005 to 2015 before returning to Division II affiliation.

(1-2023)