EAST DUPLIN PROMOTES BATTLE HOLLEY TO HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Battle Holley has been named the new head football coach at East Duplin High School, succeeding retiring coach Brian Aldridge.

East Duplin athletic director Robert Ross announced the hiring and the Wilmington Star News was among the outlets reporting that Holley had been elevated to head coach after a year as an assistant coach there.

“He seems like a great fit,’’ Ross said. “Being here this past year, I got to see him; see how hard he worked and how the players related to him.’’

Holley is well-known in Duplin County, first as a quarterback for Wallace-Rose Hill under father Jack Holley, one of the state’s all-time win leaders as a head coach.

He served seven years on Jack’s staff at W-RH before following him as head coach for one season, compiling a 9-4 record. He then went to Kinston, where he led the Vikings to 10-3 and 12-3 seasons in his two years there..

Aldridge had a 233-83-1 career record. The Panthers went 12-2 during the 2010 season, losing only to a pair of eventual unbeaten state champions. East lost to Wallace-Rose Hill by six points and to Tarboro by three.