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The Callaway boys track and field team will have a new face at the helm next season as Jamarkis Holmes takes over as head coach.

“I was already coaching football at Callaway and I was an assistant coach at Harris County previously,” Holmes said. “One day, sure enough, I walked in the building for summer workouts and coach (Pete) Wiggins asked me if I wanted to coach track.

“I thought about it for about 30 minutes and thought why not?”

Holmes made the jump from Harris County, where he coached defensive backs and wide receivers for the football team, to Callaway earlier this year as he looked to transition into a role on the defensive staff of the Cavalier football team. Little did he know at the time, but it would not take long before he was offered an additional role with Callaway athletics.

Holmes originally hails from Jackson, Mississippi, but Troup County has really become a second home for him since he graduated high school. Holmes found his way to LaGrange College, after a quick top at Faulkner University, to play running back for the Panthers. After graduating college he served as a running back coach for the Panthers before taking a role at Harris County from 2020-22. 

Holmes plans to use the experiences he has gained from his time as a Panther and Tiger and translate them to his new roles with Callaway. 

“I worked with sprinters and jumpers at Harris County and have worked with different kinds of athletes on the football field,” Holmes said. “I also helped coach the 4×1 team to compete for a state championship.”

The transition will not be hard for Holmes, who has been welcomed aboard with open arms. 

The program is also in a good state, having just had two graduates sign to run track and field in college. The trick for Holmes is to not upset the apple cart while also trying to improve the squad using his tactics. 

“We want to continue to pump guys out that are passionate about running track in college,” Holmes said. 

“Callaway really prides themselves on being like family and you can really feel that here.”

The track and field season is still months away as he will not get a chance to really work with his athletes until the new year. Holmes is waiting patiently while also preparing for what is to come.

“The kids are excited and I’m excited,” Holmes said. “When the kids found out that I was the new coach I probably had 12 kids come to ask me within a few minutes asking me if I was the new track coach.

“I know there is some time before we get started, but I’m ready to get rocking and rolling.”

The Callaway girls track and field team will also be under the stewardship of a new coach as previous boys track and field coach Andre Johnson also served as the girls coach. Holmes plans to work with Demia Mitchell, who is taking over as the girls head coach and has a wealth of experience with track and field in Troup County. 

While the track and field season is still months away, it will not be long before Holmes is on the sidelines for the football team as its season sits just around the corner. The work has already begun for Holmes on the football field as the team grinds through its last month of summer prep, but that does not mean he is ignoring his track and field duties as Holmes is already on the recruiting trail, encouraging young Cavaliers to come out for the team.

“I have already been talking to some of the guys on the team and have been pushing them to recruit some of their friends,” Holmes said.