George Washington University Athletics
Quolas, Holmgren Added to Softball Staff
8/29/2018 11:00:00 AM | Softball
Pair set to assist Colonials in first season under Shane Winkler
WASHINGTON – Kiana Quolas and Laina Holmgren have joined George Washington softball as assistant coaches ahead of its inaugural season under head coach Shane Winkler.
Quolas, a decorated collegiate pitcher, spent last season working for Atlantic 10 foe George Mason, while Holmgren is a recent graduate of Charleston Southern where she played the past two seasons under Winkler.
"I couldn't be more excited to be adding Kiana and Laina to our staff here at GW," Winkler said. "When looking for assistant coaches, I wanted to find passionate individuals who aren't only great coaches but are even better people. We knocked it out of the park by getting these two on board.
"Kiana will work with our pitchers, in addition to assisting with our offense, and Laina will work with our entire defense, as well as assisting with our offense. They are both a perfect fit for what we are looking to build here at GW. I'm excited to get to work with them!"
Last season, Quolas oversaw a George Mason pitching staff that ranked in the top half of the A-10 in ERA (3.45) and strikeouts (227). The Patriots posted a 12-10 mark in A-10 play and earned the No. 4 seed for the conference championship.
Quolas got her start in coaching at Youngstown State, serving as a graduate assistant coach in charge of pitchers and catchers from 2015 to 2017. The Penguins recorded at least 30 wins in both her seasons there, highlighted by a trip to the Horizon League Championship final in 2017.
Quolas played at Coastal Carolina from 2011 to 2015, twice being named the Big South Pitcher of the Year. She earned All-Big South honors four times with three first-team nods, and she was a two-time NFCA All-Region honoree. She was also a three-time Big South All-Academic pick.
A native of California, Quolas graduated cum laude from Coastal Carolina in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science. She went on to earn her master's degree in gerontology from Youngstown State.
"I would to thank Shane for the opportunity to be a part of GW softball," Quolas said. "It is a blessing to be a part of the Colonial Family, and I am very excited to contribute to the growth of this program."
Holmgren began working as a volunteer assistant at Charleston Southern upon her graduation in May and helped organize its summer camps. The Oregon native played two seasons for Winkler as an infielder with the Buccaneers after starting her collegiate career at Boise State.
Holmgren shined in the classroom, garnering the Christenberry Award as a senior, the Big South Conference's highest academic honor. She was also recognized last year with an award for having the highest grade point average among Charleston Southern's female student-athletes. She posted a perfect 4.0 in each semester before graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a double minor in Psychology and Natural Sciences.
Throughout her collegiate career, Holmgren stayed busy coaching during the offseason. She served as an instructor for camps at Boise State and Charleston Southern and through the Packaged Deal and the Softball Performance Workshop in California. She also worked with the South Valley Storm youth club in her native Oregon.
"I'm both very blessed and grateful to be a part of Colonial athletics," Holmgren said. "I'd like to thank GW and Coach Winkler for giving me an opportunity to make an impact on this program. It's very exciting to be a part of such a historically excellent athletic and academic institution that's determined to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience."
Quolas, a decorated collegiate pitcher, spent last season working for Atlantic 10 foe George Mason, while Holmgren is a recent graduate of Charleston Southern where she played the past two seasons under Winkler.
"I couldn't be more excited to be adding Kiana and Laina to our staff here at GW," Winkler said. "When looking for assistant coaches, I wanted to find passionate individuals who aren't only great coaches but are even better people. We knocked it out of the park by getting these two on board.
"Kiana will work with our pitchers, in addition to assisting with our offense, and Laina will work with our entire defense, as well as assisting with our offense. They are both a perfect fit for what we are looking to build here at GW. I'm excited to get to work with them!"
Last season, Quolas oversaw a George Mason pitching staff that ranked in the top half of the A-10 in ERA (3.45) and strikeouts (227). The Patriots posted a 12-10 mark in A-10 play and earned the No. 4 seed for the conference championship.
Quolas got her start in coaching at Youngstown State, serving as a graduate assistant coach in charge of pitchers and catchers from 2015 to 2017. The Penguins recorded at least 30 wins in both her seasons there, highlighted by a trip to the Horizon League Championship final in 2017.
Quolas played at Coastal Carolina from 2011 to 2015, twice being named the Big South Pitcher of the Year. She earned All-Big South honors four times with three first-team nods, and she was a two-time NFCA All-Region honoree. She was also a three-time Big South All-Academic pick.
A native of California, Quolas graduated cum laude from Coastal Carolina in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science. She went on to earn her master's degree in gerontology from Youngstown State.
"I would to thank Shane for the opportunity to be a part of GW softball," Quolas said. "It is a blessing to be a part of the Colonial Family, and I am very excited to contribute to the growth of this program."
Holmgren began working as a volunteer assistant at Charleston Southern upon her graduation in May and helped organize its summer camps. The Oregon native played two seasons for Winkler as an infielder with the Buccaneers after starting her collegiate career at Boise State.
Holmgren shined in the classroom, garnering the Christenberry Award as a senior, the Big South Conference's highest academic honor. She was also recognized last year with an award for having the highest grade point average among Charleston Southern's female student-athletes. She posted a perfect 4.0 in each semester before graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a double minor in Psychology and Natural Sciences.
Throughout her collegiate career, Holmgren stayed busy coaching during the offseason. She served as an instructor for camps at Boise State and Charleston Southern and through the Packaged Deal and the Softball Performance Workshop in California. She also worked with the South Valley Storm youth club in her native Oregon.
"I'm both very blessed and grateful to be a part of Colonial athletics," Holmgren said. "I'd like to thank GW and Coach Winkler for giving me an opportunity to make an impact on this program. It's very exciting to be a part of such a historically excellent athletic and academic institution that's determined to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience."
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