EMS ISD is pleased to announce Ricklan Holmes as the next Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator at Chisholm Trail High School. With a notable background as both a coach and a player, Holmes brings a wealth of experience, leadership and a winning spirit to the Chisholm Trail Rangers.

“I am excited to join the Ranger Nation and have much confidence in all that we as a family can accomplish at Chisholm Trail High School,” Holmes said. “Together, we will be there for and with our students to help them become not only better athletes, but better people. We will continue to build connections and development opportunities beginning at the middle school level so our students are properly prepared to be a great Ranger at the high school level, so they can graduate, win championships and earn scholarships. Keeping our parents informed and educated about our process will be a huge part of our future success.”

Coach Holmes currently serves as the assistant head football coach at Hutto High School. Before joining Hutto, Holmes coached his alma mater, Tyler High School, as head football coach and athletic coordinator from 2012 through the spring of 2023. During that time, Holmes was honored four times as the District Coach of the Year. Under Holmes’ direction, the football program won the district and area championships four times, were regional champions three times and quarterfinal champions twice, and reached the state semifinals in 2012 and 2014. The Lions made the playoffs eight out of 11 seasons under Holmes’ leadership. Many of his players during his tenure have achieved All-District honors, played at the collegiate level, and 10 players made their mark in the NFL.

“Coach Holmes has a long record of success, both as a high school coach and as a player,” said John Abendschan, EMS ISD Assistant Athletic Director. “We’re excited for the impact he will have not only on the football program at Chisholm Trail High School, but on all Ranger athletics and the CTHS school community. He is focused on growing students to be lifelong champions at anything they pursue.”

A proud alumnus of Tyler ISD, he graduated in 1998 as a multiple sport athlete. In football, he earned a three-year letterman status, playing as a running back and cornerback, and served as the team’s defensive captain. His senior year, the team advanced to the semifinals in Division 5A. Holmes also excelled in track and field, earning district championships in multiple events and qualifying for regional and state competitions.

Before taking over as head coach at his alma mater, Holmes served as the co-defensive coordinator and head girls track coach at Tyler from 2007 to 2012 and as the defensive coordinator at Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City from 2005 to 2007.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Holmes earned a Bachelor of University Studies with an emphasis in Marketing and Merchandising in 2003. During his time at OSU, he was awarded a football scholarship and finished his collegiate career as a standout cornerback with 56 tackles in 39 games. Holmes went on to play professionally in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns.

Holmes is married to his wife, Vanessa, who is also an educator, and they have six children. We are #EMSproud to welcome Coach Holmes to Chisholm Trail High School and EMS ISD.