Bill Holbrook, Michigan’s Division 2  Coach of the Year, is leaving the Wayland girls’ bowling team to take over a collegiate program in Nebraska.

“I am so very excited to announce I have accepted an offer to be the head bowling coach for Midland University in Fremont, Neb,” he announced today. “The women are currently ranked 30th in the nation with a fourth and back-to-back second place finishes in their last three tournaments. The men’s team is currently ranked sixth in the nation with one win, two second- and one third-place finish in their four tournaments.”

Holbrook several years ago took over a girls’ bowling program in Wayland that was short on participants and victories, turning it into one of the best in the area.

“As excited as I am for this opportunity, it comes at a cost,” he wrote. “Not only leaving family and many friends but perhaps the most difficult thing is leaving my Wayland Girl’s Varsity Bowling team. These girls have come so far and have worked hard to be one of the best girls’ teams in Michigan. I will be staying on as their coach through December as I start full-time with Midland University the first of January.”

Holbrook’s parents, Bill Holbrook and Sandy Kotrba, both are 1964 Wayland High School graduates, with Bill being a starting guard on the basketball team and Sandy a cheerleader and homecoming queen.

The younger Holbrook graduated from Forest Hills Central High School and took part in a number of bowling tournaments. He was attending Cornerstone University most recently and was a member of the Golden Eagles’ bowling squad.

Last year he guided the Lady Wildcats to a league co-championship, the ranking of No. 5 in Division 2 statewide and one of his prize pupils, then-sophomore Sydney Urben, finished as runner-up in the state individual state tournament.

The Wildcat boys’ coach, Sherry Miklusicak, acknowledged Holbrook’s announcement of departure.

Midland University today announced his appointment as new head bowling coach to oversee both the men’s and women’s programs at Midland.

The university statement noted, “Holbrook has over 30 years of experience coaching, teaching and training bowlers and holds a bronze certification from the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

“The Midland men’s team has recorded top 5 finishes at both the NAIA Championships and USBC National Championships in each of the past five seasons. The Warriors were the 2015 USBC National runners-up. The Lady Warriors finished as runners-up at the 2013 NAIA Invitational and are a perennial top 25 team.”

Holbrook was coaching last year under the heavy burden of losing his wife, Wanda, in an industrial accident in Ionia in the summer of 2015. His players and colleagues rallied around him like familiy members.

PHOTO: Coach Bill Holbrook hams it up with his Lady Wildcats after they displayed one of their many trophies earned during last season.

Bill Holbrook