University of North Dakota men’s basketball head coach Paul Sather announced on May 18 the hiring of A.J. Holland as an assistant coach for the Fighting Hawks.
The addition of Holland is expected to bring new experience and perspective to the program, which aims to build on its recent successes in collegiate basketball.
“We are very excited to welcome the Holland’s to the UND basketball family,” Sather said. “A.J. brings a wealth of experience to our basketball program, but more importantly, he is a tremendous person and a perfect fit for our team. His vast experience working with some great coaches at different programs opens new doors and opportunities for our basketball program here at UND.”
Holland comes to North Dakota after four seasons at East Texas A&M, where he served three years as an assistant coach following his first year as Director of Basketball Operations in 2022-23. During his time with East Texas A&M, he contributed to nine Southland Conference wins in their inaugural Division I season and helped guide the team to two postseason appearances and several victories over Division I non-conference opponents.
“I’m excited and extremely grateful for the opportunity to work alongside coach Sather and the rest of the staff at UND,” Holland said. “He has built a strong, winning program over the years with a great culture and talented players. I’m happy to jump in, learn from his [Sather] deep knowledge of the game and help the team continue to have success.” In March 2026, Holland was recognized by Silver Waves Media as part of its Rising Stars Power Lunch event honoring up-and-coming college coaches; he was also listed among Silver Wave Media’s “75 Rising Stars: Impactful Men’s Mid-Major Assistants” in 2025.
Prior coaching roles for Holland include stints at Angelo State University—where he helped lead a 20-10 record and NCAA Tournament appearance—as well as positions at University of Texas Permian Basin (2018-2020) and University of Arkansas Fort-Smith (2017-18). At UAFS, his leadership contributed to a school-record 24 wins along with an NCAA Tournament berth.
Holland began his playing career at Rice University before transferring first to College of Central Florida then finishing at University of Sioux Falls, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management with a concentration in Coaching.
