Player To Coach To UNC Graduate: Why Omar Holness Came Back

Several reasons brought Omar Holness from his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, to the University of North Carolina: athletic excellence, academic prestige and the ability to earn a degree from a world-renowned university.

Seven years after leaving, those same reasons brought him back.

While competing internationally as a member of the U17 Jamaican National Team, Holness was introduced to players on the United States squad that were current UNC players or commits. Carolina became the clear choice for his college decision after impressing the coaches and performing well both on the pitch and in the classroom.

"A major reason I was attracted to UNC was the legacy of the athletic programs and seeing how it produced many outstanding athletes who have achieved great success at the pinnacle of their sports," said Holness. "The university's commitment to excellence in promoting student success and encouraging students to realize their full potential was also a big factor."

Once he stepped foot on campus, the rest was history.

Holness quickly made a name for himself during his playing career with the Tar Heels. A midfielder, he appeared in 59 matches with 55 starts during his three seasons in Chapel Hill from 2013-15, totaling five goals and 11 assists for 21 points. The three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree still holds the program record for most assists by an individual in an NCAA Tournament with four.

Following his junior campaign, he was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake. This made Holness the sixth top-5 selection in Carolina men's soccer history.

After two seasons in Utah, Holness played for Philadelphia Union II before continuing his career in the United Kingdom with stints at Darlington FC and, most recently, Bath City FC. He was also capped six times for Jamaica's Senior National Team, even helping his home country reach the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final the summer before being drafted.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and ultimately voided the 2020-21 season, Holness was challenged with navigating life during lockdown. Faced with unfamiliar down time, he decided to revisit one dream he had paused while pursuing another: finishing his college degree.

"I always knew I would complete my degree, and the advent of COVID taught me the value of reevaluating my priorities, one of which was my career path," said Holness, adding how he knew it was the "perfect time" to return to North Carolina following the completion of his 2021-22 season with Bath City FC.

Nearly a decade after first stepping foot in Chapel Hill as a wide-eyed freshman, Holness returned to UNC, wiser, more confident and on a mission. This time, however, he traded a spot in the starting lineup for a spot on the sidelines, coaching alongside the very same people who brought him to Carolina in the first place while simultaneously completing his degree.

"Many of the fundamental principles that both Carlos (Somoano) and Grant (Porter) enforced in the team while I played at Carolina haven't changed," explained Holness. "My Carolina experience as a student-athlete was incredible, and I am grateful to have also been able to coach alongside them and have the opportunity to learn as much as I did from them both."

While serving as an assistant coach during the 2022 season, Holness used his own student-athlete experience as a method to teach and motivate the current players. Noting how he saw similar characteristics in the team as he saw in himself when he was in their position, he took pride in being able to witness his players grow and develop their skills and confidence.

Balancing the demands of school and soccer, albeit this time as a coach, was nothing new for Holness. Just as it has continuously done on the soccer field, his hard work and perseverance also paid off in the classroom, as he earned his bachelor's of arts in management and society in December 2022.

"UNC is among the best universities in the world and I am very proud to have earned a degree from this prestigious institution," said Holness. "Now that I have graduated, I feel I am poised to move to the next phase of my career, and having this degree from UNC makes my future look that much brighter."

As one chapter closes – a chapter filled with equal amounts of early morning training sessions as it was with late nights studying – another one begins. And while that chapter is yet to be written, one thing will never change:

Holness will forever be a Tar Heel, and forever a Carolina alumnus.

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