Jessica (Mooney) Holman is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for Belmont women’s basketball.
No stranger to Nashville, nor the Belmont University campus, Holman joined head coach Bart Brooks’ staff in May of 2021.
Assisting in all aspects of the program, Holman’s responsibilities include player development, scouting, recruiting and practice planning. With Holman on staff, the Bruins enjoyed another historic season in 2021-22, one which saw both regular season and Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championships and a sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Belmont (23-8, 16-2 OVC) made its second consecutive Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament after the Bruins upset fifth-seeded Oregon 73-70 in a double-overtime First Round thriller. With Holman’s aid, Belmont became only the second program in history to win NCAA Tournament games in back-to-back seasons as a No. 12 seed or lower. Within an eyelash of the program’s first Sweet 16, the Bruins rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit and led fourth-seeded and 18th-ranked Tennessee with under 30 seconds remaining. Belmont ended the year ranked 45th in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
A trio of Bruins claimed All-OVC First Team recognition and sophomore guard Tuti Jones was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year before becoming a breakout star of March Madness averaging 19.5 points and six rebounds in the NCAA Tournament. Fellow sophomore guard Destinee Wells was chosen as Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Player of the Year after garnering All-American honorable mention honors from World Exposure Report. She became only the second player in OVC history to be named OVC Tournament MVP as both a freshman and sophomore before averaging 19.5 points, 5.5 assists and five rebounds against Oregon and Tennessee in the Big Dance.
In the classroom, Belmont checked in at No. 8 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Honor Roll following the 2021-22 season, the team’s second-highest ranking ever. Additionally, senior forward Conley Chinn repeated as a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America selection and Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
A Music City native who grew up on Compton Avenue at the exact location of the Bruins’ state-of-the-art Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence, Holman began her collegiate coaching career after spending over nine years as senior director of employee and community relations at Harvest Hands CDC. While serving the Christ-centered non-profit, Holman played an integral role in the organization’s missions of providing educational opportunities, healthy living, spiritual formation and economic development to South Nashville.
After a decorated prep career at nearby Hillsboro High School, where she was a finalist for Tennessee Miss Basketball, Holman was a four-year letter winner at Vanderbilt University (2006-10). During her accomplished collegiate career, Holman won 102 games for the Commodores and played an important role in four consecutive NCAA Tournament teams, including two Sweet 16 appearances in 2008 and 2009. She was also a member of two Southeastern Conference Tournament championships and four-straight NCAA Tournament First Round victories.
Holman was a candidate for the 2010 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. A teammate of fellow Belmont assistant coach Amy Malo (2005-09) at Vanderbilt, Holman was tabbed 2008 SEC Co-Sixth Woman of the Year following her sophomore campaign.
Upon graduating, Holman served as an adjunct instructor at her alma mater, leading a course for junior and senior students majoring in human and organizational development.
Holman has remained connected to the Vanderbilt program and contributed as a color analyst for game broadcasts on the SEC Network while working with former longtime Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram.
Earning her bachelor's degree in human and organizational development in 2010, Holman added her Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in community development and action from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College in 2012.
