SAN DIEGO – San Diego State baseball head coach Kevin Vance announced his first staff hire on Monday with the addition of Tyler Holt as assistant coach.
With his appointment, Holt rekindles his professional association with Vance after their careers intersected as assistant coaches at Boston College in 2022 and 2023.
Among his numerous responsibilities, Holt will serve as the Aztecs’ hitting coach and third base coach while assisting with the baserunning and outfield defense.
A former major league outfielder, Holt also spent three years as an assistant coach at his alma mater Florida State from 2019-21 and worked for one season at North Florida in 2024.
"Tyler is one of the best pure coaches in the country,” Vance said. “He played and coached under the legendary Mike Martin at Florida State, so he knows what it takes to win. He’s been to Omaha twice as a player and once as a coach. His attention to detail and energy carried him to the big leagues as a player, and he's the same way as a coach. He is passionate about developing players and young men. He will set up our program for sustained success.”
During his coaching tenure in Tallahassee, Holt helped the Seminoles reach the 2019 College World Series as well as earn a berth in the 2021 Ole Miss Regional.
Individually, Holt helped produce five MLB Draft picks at Florida State, including catcher Matheu Nelson (1st round, 2021), infielders Drew Mendoza (3rd, 2019) and Mike Salvatore (9th, 2019), along with outfielders Robby Martin (8th, 2021) and Elijah Cabell (17th, 2021).
Following his stint with the Seminoles, Holt spent two years at Boston College, serving as the program’s hitting coach while assisting with the outfielders and baserunners.
With Holt on staff, the Eagles tied a single-season school record for victories after compiling a 37-20 record in 2023, capped by an appearance in the Tuscaloosa Regional. That season, BC ranked second in ACC play in stolen base percentage (0.94, 29-31) and sacrifice flies (15).
Thanks in part to Holt’s tutelage, the Eagles boasted three picks in the first five rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft, including outfielder Travis Honeyman (3rd), first baseman/relief pitcher Joe Vetrano (5th) and infielder Luke Gold (5th).
A native of Gainesville, Florida, Holt starred at Florida State during his collegiate playing career, twice earning first-team all-ACC honors to go with second-team All-America recognition from Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America.
In his three seasons with the Seminoles, Holt hit .359 with 21 home runs, 59 doubles and 117 RBIs, helping his squad advance to the NCAA College World Series in 2008 and 2010. He garnered second-team NCBWA Freshman All-America accolades following his debut campaign in 2008 and was an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove recipient as a sophomore in 2009.
Not to be outdone, Holt is the last FSU player to bat .400 in a season, hitting .401 in 237 at-bats across 63 games in 2009.
Holt moved on to the professional ranks as a 10th round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2010. He made his MLB debut in 2014 and played 156 games in his big-league career, splitting time with Cleveland (2014-15) and the Cincinnati Reds (2015-16).
Holt received his bachelor's degree in sport management from Florida State in 2019.