2025 Interview with Murad Holliday Defensive Coordinator from Gahanna

 

Name: Murad Holliday

School: Gahanna Lincoln High School

Position: Defensive Coordinator

College: Kent State University

Could you share with the readers your coaching tree, from first job to current job?

Out of college, I started coaching as a volunteer at my alma mater, Whitehall-Yearling, under Kip Kane. I spent four years there before getting the opportunity to coach under my high school football coach, Mike Lanza, at Gahanna Lincoln. I coached with Coach Lanza for two years and was then retained by John Snoad at Gahanna Lincoln. After that, I took a year off before joining the staff at Pickerington Central under Jay Sharrett. I eventually had the opportunity to return to Gahanna Lincoln and have been with Bruce Ward throughout his entire tenure as head coach.

Who are some of the coaches that you have learned the most from?

I believe you're always learning in this profession. First and foremost, my mother was a head coach in two sports, track and volleyball, at Marion-Franklin High School and South High School. So I truly grew up around coaching and the impact it can have.

My high school head coach, Mike Lanza, has been a mentor to me and really fueled my desire to pursue coaching. At Kent State, while we didn’t win a lot of games, I was fortunate to be around some outstanding coaches. Tony Alford and Paul Haynes were my position coaches as I transitioned from running back to defensive back, and our head coach was Dean Pees. I was blessed to learn from not only great coaches but also great men.

I also learned a great deal from Coach Jay Sharrett and Coach Jeff Lamonico during my time at Pickerington Central. And now, at Gahanna Lincoln, we have an incredible staff that I learn from every day. Coach Bruce Ward, in particular, is someone I deeply value. He’s trusted me to lead the defense, and I’m truly grateful for that opportunity.

What makes a good defensive lineman?

I think the first thing that makes a good defensive lineman is their stance and get-off. Everything starts there. They’ve got to be able to explode off the ball and create vertical push using their hands. Leverage at the keypad level really determines how successful you’ll be up front. But beyond the physical side, effort is huge. A good defensive lineman plays with relentless energy and does the dirty work, even when it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.

Football is a thinking game too. Understanding what the offense is trying to do—formations, tendencies, and blocking schemes all play a role. It’s not a glamorous job, but I’d argue it’s the most important one on the defense. Everything starts in the trenches.

Which type of offense is the toughest to prepare for?

Obviously, personnel plays a big part in how difficult an offense is to defend. There are a lot of different offensive systems that have been successful, so it’s not always about the scheme; it's about how it challenges what you do on defense.

I think the toughest offenses are the ones that take you out of what you’re comfortable doing. We face a few teams that run the Wing-T, and that can definitely cause problems. Part of the challenge is that you don’t see it often, so it forces your defense to play with extreme discipline. It attacks your rules, your eyes, and your technique, so if you're not locked in, it can lead to mistakes.

As a coach, how important is it to you that the team not only gets along on the field but off of it too?

I think it’s one of the things that separates good teams from great ones. Just like in life, not everyone is going to be best friends, but having mutual respect and a sense of unity is more important than any X’s and O’s.

We try to create opportunities outside of football—team gatherings, events, and time to bond—because we know there will be moments during the season when they’ll need to lean on those relationships and that chemistry to get through adversity.

One of the most awesome things to me is seeing players from completely different backgrounds celebrate together, support each other, and genuinely care about one another. That’s what makes sports so special—it brings people together to work toward a common goal.

What are your thoughts on players playing multiple sports?

I've always supported athletes playing multiple sports. I was a multi-sport athlete myself. I truly believe that the skills, training, and discipline gained from other sports can help make you a more complete athlete overall.

I also enjoy watching our players compete in different sports. It builds accountability, especially when it comes to staying on top of academics across seasons. And from a mental health standpoint, playing multiple sports gives athletes a healthy balance and a different approach to competition and training, instead of focusing on just one sport all year long.

At a big school like Gahanna, do you think it is better that you have linemen who play on one side of the ball only, or do you feel the best of the best should take the starting roles?

Our goal is always to build depth in the trenches so we can keep guys fresh and performing at a high level. That said, I do believe you can have linemen play on both sides of the ball; you just have to be strategic about how you manage their reps and recovery.

Both approaches have their benefits. A lot depends on your roster, how deep you are at the line positions, and the overall talent level. If we have a truly dominant player who can impact the game on both sides, we’re going to find a way to use them. 

In a perfect world, what type of defense are you running?

In a perfect world, I’m running an aggressive, fast, and physical defense. One that plays with great effort, communicates well, and is fundamentally sound. I want our guys to fly to the football, create havoc up front, and make offenses uncomfortable.

Scheme Wise, I believe in being multiple. Whether that’s odd or even fronts, I want our defense to be able to adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of our opponent. But at the core, it’s about effort, discipline, execution, and communication. Communication is one of the most important aspects because it provides a calm when everyone is on the same page. 

How many reps do you allow your 2nd and 3rd units to get during practice?

I believe the 2nd and 3rd units are the backbone of the defense, so it’s important they get a good percentage of reps in practice. As coaches, we’re always thinking about the “what ”if”—what if a starter goes down or needs a break? That next man up has to be ready.

The 2nd and 3rd units are vital to the defense’s overall success. We need to be able to plug anyone in and trust they can help the team. Injuries and other situations happen, so those reps during practice are crucial to building depth and confidence throughout the roster.

If the defense is having poor practice, what do you do to right the ship?

I think the first step is identifying the why. We talk all the time about how our expectation isn't perfection; we're all going to make mistakes. But we also emphasize not stacking bad days. One poor practice can happen, but we can't let it turn into two in a row.

It's important to acknowledge the issue, understand it, and move on just like after a bad series in a game. We refocus and work to bounce back quickly. As a coach, I might scale back what we’re doing and get back to the basics. Sometimes poor execution is a sign that we’re asking too much or moving too fast.

By simplifying things and locking in on fundamentals, we help the players build confidence, and that usually gets us back on track.

As a coach and as a player, what have been your biggest moments?

As a coach, the biggest moments for me come well after the final whistle. Seeing former players grow into successful adults, getting invited to their weddings, and watching them start families—that gives me a real sense of gratitude. It means a lot to know I played a small part in their journey. I coach to make an impact on their lives beyond football, and those moments remind me why I do it.

As a player, the biggest moments were working through a tough week of preparation and seeing it all come together on game day with my teammates. That feeling of shared success putting in the work and achieving a goal together is something I still carry with me. In a lot of ways, it mirrors what I value most as a coach: the relationships, the process, and the growth.

Where should the state finals be held?

I understand why the finals are held in Canton. It's a historic place for football in Ohio. But personally, I believe they should be held at the Horseshoe at Ohio State. For a lot of these kids, playing in that stadium would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s the biggest stage in the state, and I think it would add something really special to the moment.

The team tells you to blast one song in the locker room. What song are you choosing?

Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix.

What is your favorite home-cooked meal?

A good ribeye steak and asparagus

Have you watched any of the UFL or CFL? 

Yes, I’ve watched both, especially during the times when the NFL and college football aren’t on. It’s still good football, and I enjoy seeing different styles of play and rules and how coaches adjust in those leagues.

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