Sonny Holland, Bill Kollar Inducted into Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame
4/19/2024 10:33:00 AM | Football, General
Bobcat legends among eight members of the Big Sky HoF Class of 2024
BOZEMAN, Montana – The Big Sky Conference honored two legendary Bobcats on Thursday when it announced this summer's induction of legendary football coach Sonny Holland and star defensive lineman Bill Kollar into the league's Hall of Fame.
Linked in Bobcat history by the team's 1972 Big Sky Championship season, Holland's second as head coach of the program for which he previously played and worked as an assistant coach and Kollar's breakout junior campaign during which he earned Big Sky Defensive MVP honors, the two raise to six the number of Bobcats inducted. The 2024 class officially becomes Hall of Famers on Saturday, July 20, during a banquet that precedes the Big Sky Kickoff weekend.
Holland served as MSU's head coach from 1971 to 1977, leading the Bobcats to the Division II National Championship in 1976. That was the first such title won by a Big Sky school, and matched the 1956 crown he helped lead the Cats to as a player. His teams also won Big Sky crowns in 1972 and 1976, and his 27 league wins was the most by a BSC coach at the time of his retirement. Holland was the first Bobcat to earn All-America honors three times as a player (1957-59), and started on the team's 1956 NAIA title-winning team. He helped the Cats win a league title as an assistant in 1964, was two-time Big Sky Coach of the Year, and during his time as head coach the program produced nine future NFL players and a dozen All-Americas.
On the list of Holland's NFL players and All-Americas, Kollar's name is most prominent. He earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 after a career in which he was First Team All-Big Sky in each of his three varsity seasons, Second Team All-America as a junior, and First Team All-America as a senior. UPI named him the league's defensive player of the year in 1972, and in 1974 he became the first the first defensive player t oever earn MVP honors at the Senior Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals made him the 24th player chosen in the 1974 NFL Draft, and he earned All-Rookie honors that season. After his playing days he launched a long, productive coaching career. He coached in Super Bowl XXXIII with the Falcons, Super XXXVI with the Rams, and was part of Denver's Super Bowl 50 coaching staff.
The 2024 Big Sky Hall of Fame Class also includes: Natalie Doma, women's basketball, Idaho State (2004-08); Lindsay Haput, volleyball, Sacramento State (2004-07); Orlando Lightfoot, men's basketball, Idaho (1991-94); Erik Meyer, football, Eastern Washington (2002-05); Dick Motta, basketball coach, Weber State (1960-68); Don Read, football coach, Montana (1986-95).
Eligibility for the Hall of Fame is based on the following criteria: Two full seasons of competition at a Big Sky member institution who made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to athletics at the institutional, conference, and national level; an alumnus/alumna is eligible at any time beginning five years after completing their collegiate eligibility; coaches who have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to Big Sky athletics after service of at least five full years, and must have completed their tenure or be out of the conference for five full years; administrators who made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary contributions or service to Big Sky athletics shall be eligible for induction after service of three full years and are immediately eligible.
This year's Big Sky Hall of Fame class, the league's third, was selected by a committee of 14 members which included representatives from all 10 full-time Big Sky institutions along with an additional Athletic Director, Senior Women's Administrator, a conference office representative, and an at-argue committee member. The banquet on July 20 begins at 6:30 pm at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington. Tickets are $80, and includes admission to the gala, a commemorative poster, and a meal. More information and tickets are available here.
#GoCatsGo
Linked in Bobcat history by the team's 1972 Big Sky Championship season, Holland's second as head coach of the program for which he previously played and worked as an assistant coach and Kollar's breakout junior campaign during which he earned Big Sky Defensive MVP honors, the two raise to six the number of Bobcats inducted. The 2024 class officially becomes Hall of Famers on Saturday, July 20, during a banquet that precedes the Big Sky Kickoff weekend.
Holland served as MSU's head coach from 1971 to 1977, leading the Bobcats to the Division II National Championship in 1976. That was the first such title won by a Big Sky school, and matched the 1956 crown he helped lead the Cats to as a player. His teams also won Big Sky crowns in 1972 and 1976, and his 27 league wins was the most by a BSC coach at the time of his retirement. Holland was the first Bobcat to earn All-America honors three times as a player (1957-59), and started on the team's 1956 NAIA title-winning team. He helped the Cats win a league title as an assistant in 1964, was two-time Big Sky Coach of the Year, and during his time as head coach the program produced nine future NFL players and a dozen All-Americas.
On the list of Holland's NFL players and All-Americas, Kollar's name is most prominent. He earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 after a career in which he was First Team All-Big Sky in each of his three varsity seasons, Second Team All-America as a junior, and First Team All-America as a senior. UPI named him the league's defensive player of the year in 1972, and in 1974 he became the first the first defensive player t oever earn MVP honors at the Senior Bowl. The Cincinnati Bengals made him the 24th player chosen in the 1974 NFL Draft, and he earned All-Rookie honors that season. After his playing days he launched a long, productive coaching career. He coached in Super Bowl XXXIII with the Falcons, Super XXXVI with the Rams, and was part of Denver's Super Bowl 50 coaching staff.
The 2024 Big Sky Hall of Fame Class also includes: Natalie Doma, women's basketball, Idaho State (2004-08); Lindsay Haput, volleyball, Sacramento State (2004-07); Orlando Lightfoot, men's basketball, Idaho (1991-94); Erik Meyer, football, Eastern Washington (2002-05); Dick Motta, basketball coach, Weber State (1960-68); Don Read, football coach, Montana (1986-95).
Eligibility for the Hall of Fame is based on the following criteria: Two full seasons of competition at a Big Sky member institution who made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to athletics at the institutional, conference, and national level; an alumnus/alumna is eligible at any time beginning five years after completing their collegiate eligibility; coaches who have made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary service to Big Sky athletics after service of at least five full years, and must have completed their tenure or be out of the conference for five full years; administrators who made outstanding contributions or offered extraordinary contributions or service to Big Sky athletics shall be eligible for induction after service of three full years and are immediately eligible.
This year's Big Sky Hall of Fame class, the league's third, was selected by a committee of 14 members which included representatives from all 10 full-time Big Sky institutions along with an additional Athletic Director, Senior Women's Administrator, a conference office representative, and an at-argue committee member. The banquet on July 20 begins at 6:30 pm at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington. Tickets are $80, and includes admission to the gala, a commemorative poster, and a meal. More information and tickets are available here.
#GoCatsGo
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