Holmquist spent two years at Cypress College under coach Don Johnson before transferring to Biola University,[1] where he played from 1972 to 1974.[2]
He began his coaching career at Fresno Pacific University in 1975–76. During his three-year stint, Holmquist recorded 36 wins and 43 losses. He moved to Biola in 1978, where Holmquist served as Co-Head Coach alongside Howard Lyon. In 1982, they led Biola to the NAIA National Championship Game and to the NCCAA National Championship in 1984.[2] Following Lyon's resignation in 1988, Holmquist became the lone coach.[3] Holmquist did not coach the Biola team in the 1989–90 season to focus on his duties as athletic director,[4] before carrying out the two roles until the end of the 2015–16 school year, when he retired from his 27-year stint as athletic director. Holmquist took this decision prior to Biola's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II in accordance with NCAA rules.[5]
On November 24, 2015, Holmquist became the eighth men's college basketball coach in NCAA history to reach 900 career wins.[6] On February 27, 2021, Holmquist became the fifth to reach 1000 career wins.[7] He finished the 2020–21 season with an overall coaching record of 1,002–410.[8]
Under his guidance, three of his players earned Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Player of the Year honors: Matt Garrison (1996–97), Nate Strong (2001–02) and Dakari Archer (2015–16).[2] Some of his players went on to play professionally overseas, including Johnny Griffin (Class of 1988, played in Argentina, Austria, Germany),[9]Emilio Kovačić (Class of 1992, played in Croatia, Italy, Slovenia),[10] Kellan Eckle (Class of 2004, played in Germany),[11] Brandon Warner (Class of 2006, played in Germany),[12] Rocky Hampton (Class of 2010, played in Austria),[13] Davey Hopkins (Class of 2012, played in Germany),[14] David Cline (Class of 2013, played in Germany),[15] Andre Murillo (Class of 2014, played in Germany).[16]
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion
Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion
Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion