Spring Valley High School is buzzing with excitement as it welcomes its new head basketball coach. Taylor Holst is a dedicated teacher and sports enthusiast ready to lead the team to new heights.
“I was drawn to Spring Valley for both athletic and academic reasons,” Holst explained. “Spring Valley has a strong basketball program, competing in Nevada’s highest level of high school basketball. Academically, I’m excited to teach at an IB school again, just like I did at Valley High School.” Holst will assume the role as a history teacher at Spring Valley in fall of 2024.
Plans for Success
Holst believes in building a winning mentality through practice and personal attention. “Winning starts with practice. Players learn to win by competing with their teammates every day. Each player is different, so I get to know them individually to understand how to coach them best.”
Effective communication is key for the new coach. “The most important part of building relationships is effective communication. I plan to work with everyone by listening to their perspectives and keeping everyone on the same page about our team goals.”
Holst is optimistic about the team’s future, despite some challenges. “We have a young team with a lot of potential. It might take time for them to grow, but that’s the part of coaching I love most—helping young players develop into great athletes and people.” This is referring to how the next year’s varsity team will be almost all newcomers with only one returning from last season. This is due to the fact that much of last seasons team bid farewell because they were seniors.
Background and Philosophy
Holst brings a solid background in coaching. He previously coached at Liberty High School and from 2021-2024 he coached at Foothill High School as the head JV coach and a Varsity assistant coach. The team finished ranked 5th in the state of Nevada. Holst is no stranger to playing the game as he played college basketball at Hastings College in Nebraska and high school basketball in Gillette, Wyoming, where they won the state championship his senior year.
Holst measures success in more ways than just winning games. “Success is more than just our record. I want every player to learn the value of hard work, teamwork, and self-discipline—skills that will help them in all areas of life.”
Holst plans to actively engage with students well before he officially starts coaching. He has already started intramurals for the upcoming 2024-2025 season to grow connections with the team before the season to ensure success. As the new coach, he aims to blend into the current team culture while introducing new ideas. “I need to understand the team’s existing culture and keep the positive aspects while bringing in my own experiences and ideas.”
“We’ll build a winning team that the students are proud of, and our players will be role models on and off the court,” said Holst. Spring Valleys basketball team is new to being in the 5A division in Nevada only gaining the title last season. Holst understands this and wants to prepare the team for the intense but not impossible goal of matching the other schools in the division.
Looking Ahead
With a plenty of experience and a clear vision, the new head coach is ready to lead Spring Valley High School’s basketball program to success. “My experience has prepared me to lead a winning program. I’m grateful to the administration for believing in me and the players for welcoming me. I’m excited for the season ahead.”
Spring Valley High School’s new head basketball coach brings passion, experience, and a clear vision, promising an exciting new chapter for the school’s basketball program.
