The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 6/6 Women's Basketball's Holle leaving legacy in her final season
12.10.2024 | Women's Basketball
Shay Holle has played in 141 career games for Texas.
By Nicole Vargas | Texas Communications
Throughout her college basketball career, Shay Holle has played in a program record 141 games, accumulating 117 wins with the Texas Longhorns. With a career-high of 22 points in a single game, Shay was named to the 2024 Big 12 All-Defensive Team and selected as an All-Big 12 honorable mention. Armed with poise and confidence, she is a star on the basketball court.
You'd never know it, but discomfort is Shay's comfort zone.
"As a freshman, I was just so scared to make mistakes, which I think, in turn, makes you more inclined to make mistakes because you're so tied up in everything." Holle said. "I think back to 18-year-old Shay, and she was so stressed out just to go to practice. I've seen myself grow from that to now where it just feels so comfortable."
An Austin native, Shay went to Westlake High School where she played for the women's basketball team and competed in track and field. Before coming to The University of Texas, she was named espnW HoopGurlz' 26th player at the guard position and earned two titles as a District 25-6A Most Valuable Player. In 2020, she was named the Austin American-Statesman's All-Centex Player of the Year, historically becoming Westlake's second student to receive the honor.
That same year, Shay went to Texas, where she would undoubtedly become an integral player on the women's basketball team.
"I've really been able to lean on her the last couple years," women's basketball head coach, Vic Schaefer, said. "Last year in particular, she went from being probably our third option defensively when we were making out a game plan to being our number one defender."
Shay now holds the program record for games played in the NCAA Era and will be recognized for the record at the Texas home game on Dec. 11. With eight wins for Texas she will become the winningest player in program history.
"I still get challenged every single day, which is exactly what I want and why I know I'm in the right place," Holle said. "Because as comfortable as I can say I am, I still get pushed to be uncomfortable, which I think is a really good spot to be in."
Not only has Shay spent her years at UT being dedicated to the team, but she has worked equally as hard in her studies. She completed her undergraduate studies in the McCombs School of Business with a degree in finance. In April, she was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team, an honor for players who succeed both academically and athletically. Now, in her final year with the Longhorns, she works to earn her master's degree in strategic communication at the Moody College of Communication.
"I'm getting my master's in communication, and I would love to stay around sports," Holle said. "I don't necessarily think I want to be a coach, but I think just being on the business side of sports, or like a general manager of an arena or entertainment. Just staying around it, not necessarily being on the court for it, I think that'd be awesome."
While Shay navigates her future post-grad, Schaefer believes she is destined for a career of coaching.
"I'm going to fight like hell to keep her out of the business section and keep her in coaching," Schaefer said. "I joke with her all the time, 'you're going to be a coach,' and she laughs, and her parents laughed at me when I said that to her, but she'll be a great coach. She's going to be so successful. I don't care what she does, she's going to be so successful, because that's who she is."
Shay's success isn't the only thing that is guaranteed. She has also gained a lifelong sisterhood with her fellow teammates, who have deemed her as the 'mom' of the team.
"She's always the mom on our team," sophomore forward Madison Booker said. "For summer and a little bit during school, we have to wear the same outfits. I'm talking about shoes, socks, shorts and shirts. Shay got our outfits together and she sent in the group chat. She said, 'make sure y'all send your fits back. Make sure it matches.'"
As one of four seniors on the team, Shay naturally stepped into a leadership role. She may lead as she plays, but she also radiates a positive attitude that transfers over to her teammates.
"She just shows up every single day with a smile on her face, always positive, always going to be a leader," said senior forward Taylor Jones, who was also roommates with Holle for two years. "I think that really has affected a lot of us on the team. Just seeing her show up every single day is a very positive light that we all need, and so I'm very thankful for her."
Skills, smarts and a smile are a winning combination for Shay Holle. As she plays her final season, it is clear that her mark will be left on the Longhorns for good.
"You get a great kid. I don't think I've ever seen her have a bad day," Schaefer said. "If she's had one, she never lets anybody else in the gym know it. You're talking about one of the all time great kids in my career."
