{{Short description|American football player and coach (1927–1995)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Henry Holbert | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|5|7}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|12|1|1927|5|7}} | death_place = Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. | alma_mater = | player_years1 = {{Circa|1944}} | player_team1 = Tennessee State | player_positions = Tight end | coach_years1 = c. 1949–1950 | coach_team1 = Druid HS (AL) | coach_years2 = c. 1951–1961 | coach_team2 = Prentiss Junior College | coach_years3 = 1963 | coach_team3 = Tuskegee (assistant) | coach_years4 = 1964–1968 | coach_team4 = Alabama State (assistant) | coach_years5 = 1969–1972 | coach_team5 = Alabama State | coach_years6 = 1973–1991 | coach_team6 = Tuskegee (assistant) | overall_record = 21–20 (college) | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = | awards = | coaching_records = }} '''Henry Holbert Jr.''' (May 7, 1927 – December 1, 1995)<ref>''U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014''</ref> was an American football tight end and coach. He served as the head coach for the Alabama State Hornets from 1969 to 1972, in addition to many years as an assistant.
Holbert attended college at Tennessee State, playing track and field and football. He played tight end in football, graduating in c. 1944.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87105078/the-tennessean/|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 20, 1973|title=Fisk Gets Hornets Inside Their Nest}} {{Open Access}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87105206/the-montgomery-advertiser/|newspaper=The Montgomery Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 5, 1995|title=Holbert's funeral held today}} {{Open Access}}</ref> Shortly after graduating, Holbert started a coaching career in c. 1949, with Druid High School.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87104940/the-pittsburgh-courier/|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Courier|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 5, 1969|title=Hornets Tap Grid, Hardwood Coaches}} {{Open Access}}</ref> After two years there he left for the head coach position at Prentiss Junior College, where he would coach between 10 and 12 years.{{efn|''The Huntsville Mirror'' said in 1964 that he "served Prentiss Junior College, Miss., for 12 years."<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87105518/the-huntsville-mirror/|newspaper=The Huntsville Mirror|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 11, 1964|title=Van Cleve Appointed Head Coach At ASC}} {{Open Access}}</ref> ''The Pittsburgh Courier'' said in 1969 that he was there for ten years.<ref name="auto"/>}} In 1963, Holbert accepted a position as an assistant for Tuskegee University. He spent one year there before leaving for Alabama State University.<ref name="auto2"/> He served as an assistant coach from 1964 to 1968, until being promoted to head coach in 1969.<ref name="auto"/> He served as head coach for three seasons, compiling a record of 21–20, before being demoted in 1973. He was replaced by Willie Parker,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87105023/the-montgomery-advertiser/|newspaper=The Montgomery Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 23, 1973|title=ASU Names New Grid Mentor|author=Thames, Lamar}} {{Open Access}}</ref> and then resigned from the school rather than accept an assistant position.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87104926/alabama-journal/|newspaper=Alabama Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 8, 1973|title=Holbert Resigns}} {{Open Access}}</ref> After leaving Alabama State, he accepted an assistant position at Tuskegee University, where he would serve various roles (including offensive coordinator) until retiring in 1992.<ref name="auto1"/> He died on December 1, 1995, at the age of 68.<ref name="auto1"/>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Find a Grave}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holbert, Henry}} Category:1927 births Category:1995 deaths Category:Alabama State Hornets football coaches Category:Tennessee State Tigers football players Category:Tuskegee Golden Tigers football coaches Category:High school football coaches in Alabama Category:Junior college football coaches in the United States Category:African-American coaches of American football Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen