From First Pitch to Next Generation: Holden Hering Revives a Family Legacy at WC

His father is in the annals of Weatherford College baseball history. Now, Holden Hering is looking to create his own legacy with the Coyotes.  

Hart Hering threw the first pitch ever as the number one starter for the Coyotes in the 2003 inaugural season. That was the start of a program that is now one of the most renowned in the nation. 

"My dad being a part of the first-ever baseball team here and throwing the first-ever pitch of the program was a big thing. With Coach (Jeff) Lightfoot being the coach for that team and staying here as the coach for all that time, we had a strong connection to him and his family," Holden, also a pitcher, said. 

"Also, being in the area and my dad being a coach allowed him to coach Lightfoot's oldest son, so through all of that, our families have stayed pretty close to one another. Having a lot of ties to this place through my dad and the connections we've had with all of the coaches, that 100% influenced me to come to WC." 

Holden graduated from Mineral Wells High School as one of the highest‑ranked pitching prospects in Texas. He posted a 0.93 ERA in his senior season, allowing only 37 hits, 10 earned runs, 19 walks and 144 strikeouts in 74.2 innings. 

He helped the Rams reach a regional final for the first time in 67 years. 

In 2024, he was also one of only nine players in the nation to receive the ABCA/Rawlings High School Gold Glove Award. The award acknowledges the top defensive high school baseball players in the country. He was the sole pitcher to earn the award that season, as well as the only player from Texas on the list. 

Holden originally committed to pitch for Texas Tech University before changing his mind and making the short trip down the road to WC. 

"I committed to Texas Tech when I was pretty young, and at the time it felt like a great fit for me," he said. "Getting drafted last year was a big possibility for me, but unfortunately, it just didn't work out. So after that happened, I wasn't really in love with Texas Tech anymore, and I knew that JUCO was going to be my move because it allowed for a lot of different opportunities to open. 

"So once I made that decision, I knew Weatherford College was going to be the place that I was going to go." 

It was a decision that first‑year Coyotes head coach — and former longtime assistant — Jud Kinzy welcomed mightily. 

Kinzy said it also speaks highly about how far the Coyote program has come since the elder Hering helped get things started with Lightfoot, who moved into the full‑time athletic director role after last season following 23 years at the helm. 

"It definitely says a lot about where this program continues to head talent‑wise," Kinzy said. "This one means a little more, and it happened because this is a Coyote family. 

"Coach Lightfoot coaching Hart and continuing to be there for him throughout his life has helped impact this situation. It says a lot about how strong this bond is. When you become a Coyote, you're a Coyote for life!" 

Hart Hering went on to play for Texas A&M and, afterward, became a successful high school baseball coach, leading Brock to the 2021 state tournament. He also coached Holden as an assistant at Mineral Wells.

"Being able to play for my dad in my last year of high school was a huge blessing," Holden said. "Seeing him coach all of my younger years and then coming back to coach and being able to play for him was very special. 

"The best part about it was my brother was a freshman last year, so I got to play with him for a year as well, so it was a very cool moment. 

"I think my dad has inspired me in a lot of ways, just from hearing stories about how he was as a player and how hard he had to work to get to the level he got is very inspiring." 

The elder Hering was naturally excited when he learned of his son's decision to come to WC, though he stressed it was entirely Holden's choice. 

"I think Holden knew if he ever landed at a junior college, it would be at WC," Hart said. "It's kinda neat to have a second generation come through the program. I had such an incredible experience, and I hope the same for my son," Hart said. "I think of it as Jeff Lightfoot and myself as the past era of Coyote Baseball, and Jud Kinzy and Holden as the future era." 

Hart said Holden would often ask about his experiences at WC, and he shared how being a student‑athlete there helped him build a strong foundation for both his academic and athletic careers. 

"For me, Weatherford College has always been about the people and the relationships. To me, that's what sets it apart from others," Hart said. "Some of my favorite memories were playing on the inaugural team in 2003, opening up the brand new Roger Williams Ballpark, winning the conference championship in our second season of competition, and playing in the NJCAA Region V Tournament in 2004, where we were so close to going to Grand Junction." 

Holden enters a program performing at its highest level ever. Over the past five seasons, the Coyotes have won 221 games, finished third in the NJCAA Division I College World Series in 2023 with a program‑best record of 53‑11, reached the Southwest District championship round in 2025, advanced to the final three in the regional tournament in 2024, and reached the regional semifinals in 2021 and 2022. 

The Coyotes have not had a losing season since 2007. 

"I was very excited that I was able to come here to play this year," Holden said. "I was mainly excited because I knew the level of the program and I knew that we were going to win and win a lot while I was here. Everybody's goal is to win a national championship, and I knew that this team would have a really good chance at doing that this year." 

The Coyotes entered the season ranked No. 7 in the nation. 

"I am very excited to take the next step and the next jump up," Holden said, noting that the first couple of weeks were "a big reality check and seeing that this is a whole other level and you can't get away with a lot of stuff that you could in high school on the field." 

Holden plans to attend the University of Arkansas next and play baseball for the Razorbacks. He hopes to one day reach the major leagues, but said, "I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason, so whatever plan God has for me, I'm going to ride with that." 

He is currently taking general studies courses and plans to major in sports management next year.