You can't blame Katie Holley for being excited about taking over as the head girls basketball coach at Denison. Even at this no-man's land portion of the calendar, it's the best time of the year for her.

The Van Alstyne native is getting her first opportunity to be in charge of a program after stints as an assistant under a pair of successful head coaches in Georgetown's Rhonda Farney and Mike Martin at Vista Ridge.

Even though she is taking over a program which has fallen on hard times recently -- the Lady Yellow Jackets went 5-26 last season and won only one district game in each of the past three years -- after the previous cycle produced the best stretch in team history, which included three straight playoff appearances and the program's only two postseason victories, Holley has the pedigree to try and lead the turnaround.

She was a two-time all-state player for the Lady Panthers -- including being named the Texas Sports Writer Association's Class 2A Girls Player of the Year for the 1997-98 season -- under current Sherman head coach Allan Pope and played one season for the University of Texas before injuries forced her off the court.

In her search for a program to take over, Holley was also a finalist for the opening at Wylie, which made the playoffs last season in Class 5A.

Holley has received high praise, not just from those at Denison who just hired her. Those without connections to the DHS athletic program spoke highly about Holley, citing a spark and leadership ability that has been evident since her playing days.

She has also had success as a head track coach as her girls squad at Vista Ridge won regional titles in 2007 and 2008.