Mary Holt-Kelsch

Head Coach

Mary Holt-Kelsch was announced as the 11th head coach in program history in July of 2024.

Holt-Kelsch joins the program after spending the last three seasons as the head coach at Rhode Island College. The Anchorwomen posted stronger records in each of Holt-Kelsch’s three seasons, capped off by a 31-win campaign last year that ended with RIC’s first appearance in the Little East Conference Championship in nine seasons.

With the Anchorwomen, Holt-Kelsch coached three First Team All-Region selections, two Second Team All-Region selections, six First Team All-Conference selections, four Second Team All-Conference selections, and seven All-Rookie Team selections.

Prior to her tenure at Rhode Island College, Holt-Kelsch was on staff at the University of Rhode Island, joining the program as an assistant coach in 2015.

Promoted to URI associate head coach in May of 2019, Holt-Kelcsh helped rebuild the program. In 2019, the Rams increased their win total for the second straight season, winning 17 games. As a team, they had a breakthrough season offensively, setting single-season program records in home runs (33), slugging percentage (.398) and on-base percentage (.341). The team batting average (.260) was URI’s highest since 1997, and the fifth highest in program history.   

Holt-Kelsch, who went to Rhode Island after two seasons as an assistant at Lafayette, worked primarily with the infielders. She was also a hitting instructor and assisted with recruiting.

During her time at Lafayette, Holt's success led to her being promoted to the top assistant position on Jexx Varner's staff. In addition to helping the team improve their overall fielding percentage, Holt also monitored and mentored their student-athletes, helping Lafayette achieve the highest GPA in program history during the 2015 season.

A native of Providence, R.I., Holt is a 2013 graduate of Kent State University. She was a three-year starter in the infield and finished her career tied for sixth in program history in home runs. Holt earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and also collected Mid-American Conference All-Academic Team honors.