A native of Brooklyn, New York, Holley began his coaching career in 2018–19 as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn College Bulldogs, an NCAA Division III program. During his lone season on the bench, Holley helped the Bulldogs more than double their win total from the previous season, while the team’s head coach earned Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Holley subsequently served as an assistant coach at John Dewey High School and George Wingate High School in New York City. In addition to coaching, he worked as an educator in the classroom, reflecting his commitment to student development both on and off the court.
His coaching journey later took him to the New Jersey high school ranks, where he spent the 2024–25 season contributing to the development of four-star University of Illinois commit and eventual Final Four participant Brandon Lee, as well as Kuai Deng, who went on to win the 2025–26 NJCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship as a member of the Howard College Hawks.
As a player, Holley competed at Kingsborough Community College, where he earned All-Region XV recognition and helped his team capture two city championships. He completed his collegiate playing career at CUNY York College, earning All-CUNYAC honors.
Beyond the sidelines, Coach Will is the founder of the My City Alumni Classic, an event celebrating former New York City collegiate basketball players and their contributions to the game. In addition to his coaching experience, he has taught at the collegiate level and self-published a book, Confront the Brutal Facts: Stockdale Paradox and Sports, further demonstrating his dedication to education, personal development, and the application of leadership principles in athletics.
Holley earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from CUNY York College, a master’s degree in Sport Management from Brooklyn College, and a Doctor of Education in Sports Leadership from East Tennessee State University.
