Second in a series
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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A 2002 graduate of Tech, Janet Holt-Baker led
her team to four OVC championships and two NCAA appearances. She
left her mark with indelible ink, being recognized first as the
1998-99 OVC Freshman of the Year followed by three consecutive
years as the OVC Player of the Year. In her career, Holt reaped
four All-OVC selections in addition to Kodak All-Region and CoSIDA
Academic All-America honors.
That lengthy list sets her apart as one of the greatest
women’s basketball players in program history.
Holt-Baker is one of four people who will be inducted at the
annual Hall of Fame Dinner, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2, in the
Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. The induction
dinner is part of Homecoming festivities. Tickets for the dinner,
or the Saturday afternoon game against Eastern Illinois, can be
purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by
calling (931) 372-3940.
To open her career under coach Bill Worrell, Holt earned OVC
Freshman of the Week honors three times and conference Player of
the Week recognition once. She averaged 13.3 points and led the
team in rebounds and steals during her rookie season.
As a sophomore, Janet earned her first Kodak honor. She was named
the OVC Player of the Year and earned Player of the Week five
times. She also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and was
named to three all-tournament teams as she averaged 17.4 points per
game.
In 2001, Holt ranked fourth in the nation in scoring as a junior
and ranked among OVC leaders in seven categories. Her athletic
achievements continued to grow, but her academic achievements grew,
as well. By the time she was a junior, Holt was listed on the OVC
Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times as well as Tech’s
A.D. Honor Roll all six semesters. During the season, Holt recorded
11 double-doubles.
Holt’s career was capstoned during her senior season.
In the Golden Eagle season-opener Holt scored a career-high 41
points against Ole Miss. She surpassed 2,000 career points and
became the only player in the program’s rich history with
more than 2,000 points, 900 rebounds, 250 assists and 150
steals.
Holt earned both the Kodak all-district honors and Academic
All-America selection that season. She was again named the OVC
Player of the Year – the only women’s player in history
to win three OVC Player of the Year awards -- and finished her
career ranked second all-time in OVC and Tech history with 2,420
points.
Holt wrapped up her decorated career as a four-time team MVP.
What distinguished Holt from any other scorer was her dedication
to her team and her education. Entering into her final season, Holt
was quoted by SLAM magazine: “The WNBA isn’t really a
priority. I’m a nursing student, and I’ll probably
trade rebounds for IVs after this season is over.”
She later stated that her team winning was more important than
leading the nation in scoring: “It’s more important to
me to step up and be a leader, if it happens it happens, but
I’m going to worry about our team and its success.”
The campus also recognized Janet’s accomplishments. She was
chosen as the school’s NCAA Woman of the Year in 2002, and
was picked as Tech's Outstanding Female Athlete in both 2001 and
2002.
A native of Lynchburg, Tennessee, Holt graduated with a degree in
nursing in 2002. Holt-Baker currently resides in her hometown of
Lynchburg with her husband, Todd. The couple has two sons, Will (7)
and Hoyt (6).
As predicted, she is working in the health field as a clinical
manager, overseeing the medical/pediatric floor at the Harton
Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma.