St. Olaf College Athletics

Eric Holst is in his third season as the throws coach for the St. Olaf men's and women's track and field programs in 2025-26 after being hired in August 2023.

A two-time national champion and three-time All-American, Holst came to St. Olaf after spending the last four years coaching throws at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minn.
  
At Totino-Grace, Holst coached five state qualifiers and two all-state honorees in the two seasons unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also holds USA Track & Field Level 1 coaching certification and is a USATF certified official.
 
During his career at the University of St. Thomas, Holst was the NCAA Division III indoor national champion in the weight throw in 2019 and the outdoor national champion in the hammer throw in 2018, while also placing second in the hammer throw outdoors in 2019. A two-time USA Championship qualifier in the weight throw, he was also a national qualifier in the discus throw and was the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) indoor champion in the weight throw in 2019.
 
After graduating from St. Thomas with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, Holst is pursuing a master of science in manufacturing engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Stout while working full-time as a maintenance engineer. His wife - Emily (Jarnigan) Holst ‘20 - was an All-MIAC libero for St. Olaf’s volleyball team in 2019.