Lakewood finds new football coach

Lakewood High School has found its new head football coach, and the North Carolina native brings high-level experience to the job.

John Holt, formerly the offensive line coach for Georgia State University’s Division I FBS football program, was approved by the Sampson County Schools Board of Education this week. Holt will replace Barrett Sloan, who departed Lakewood in March after seven years with the program, taking the head job for Midway football.

A native of Leicester, N.C., and a 2008 graduate of Appalachian State, Holt was a four-year letterman, helping the Mountaineers to three straight NCAA FCS titles from 2005-07. As a senior, he served as team captain while earning third team All-America honors from The Sports Network.

Holt began his coaching career in 2008 in an offensive quality control position at App State, working under Shawn Elliott, then the Mountaineers’ offensive line coach. Holt then served as App State’s tight ends coach from 2009-11, coaching four-time all-conference tight end Ben Jorden in three of his four seasons.

Before coming to Georgia State, Holt spent nine seasons at Western Carolina, where he served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. During his time in Cullowhee, he tutored seven All-Southern Conference offensive linemen, three So-Con All-Freshman honorees and two Freshman All-America linemen. His offensive line paved the way for four consecutive 1,000-yard rushers from 2015-18.

He was elevated to associate head coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2019 and then to offensive coordinator for the 2020-21 spring season. He took a detour as the offensive coordinator at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College for the 2021 season before taking the job with Georgia State.

In his first season with Georgia State, the Panthers ranked No. 14 in the nation in rushing while averaging over 200 yards of both rushing and passing. Two of Holt’s offensive linemen, center Malik Sumter and guard Pat Bartlett, earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors.

Holt and his wife Krystle have one son, John Thomas, who goes by JT.