ELKHART — Dominique Holt admits he did not give it his all as a high school track athlete.
The current Elkhart High School sprint coach is making sure now that he gives back to the sport he truly loves now.
The dedicated Holt, who competed at both Elkhart Central and Concord during his prep days, is much more than just another coach on Adam Homo’s staff for the Lions.
“I wouldn’t really call him a coach because he’s more like a big brother to me,” said Elkhart senior sprint star Alonzo Newbern of Holt. “He loves what he does, and his ambition is top tier. He dedicates his time to us and that means a lot to me. It shows that he cares.”
Holt coaches at Elkhart despite living in Fort Wayne. He spends almost four hours in the car driving back and forth to work with a lineup full of top-notch athletes like Newbern and his twin brother Alfonzo.
Alonzo Newbern, who just began running track at EHS his junior year after losing a bet to his brother, is seeded fifth in the 200-meter dash going into the IHSAA state finals this Saturday, June 6 at North Central High School in Indianapolis. He and his brother, along with Wyatt Skipper and Coleman Bell, are seeded seventh in the 4×100-meter relay event. Newbern, who has not lost a race this season individually, is also on the 4×400-meter relay team with Brendan Scott, Landon Baker and Trevor Becker.
The personable 32-year-old Holt, who competed in the state finals for Concord in 2011, loves coaching Newbern.
“It means a lot for me to coach Alonzo,” said Holt, who ran for legendary Elkhart Central coach Tom Kurth as a freshman. “I’ve coached a lot of great athletes, but he is phenomenal. He’s a diamond in the rough. He’s come out of nowhere. His ceiling is so high that we don’t even know how high it is.
“The thing about Alonzo is that if he tells you he’s going to do something he’ll do it. From day one, he’s brought leadership with him. He never brings a negative attitude to the track. His mindset is to work, and he brings other people on our team up with him.”
Holt was right there this year when Newbern needed him the most.
The star was disqualified for a false start in the 100-meter dash at the Warsaw Regional on May 28. Holt embraced Newbern right after the heart-breaking moment for his prized pupil.
“That meant a lot to me and showed a lot of love,” Newbern said.
Newbern regrouped to win the 200, anchor the winning 4×1 relay and also run on the third place 4×400-meter relay team.
“To see him break down like he did then was tough, but it showed in that moment that he truly cared about track, that he loved it,” Holt said. “He took it very hard. But he shook it off and responded like a star should.”
Head coach Homo, whose father Dana was one of the track coaching pillars in Elkhart along with men like Kurth and Jim Eger, knows he has a valuable one in Holt.
“Dominique is very likeable, very excited about track and field and laser focused about it,” Homo said. “The drive he makes to Elkhart itself speaks volumes about his commitment to our kids and our program.
“He can relate to our kids in ways that I can’t. He’s young and I’m older. I try to get coaches who can speak to our kids in ways that I can’t and he brings that to our program. If a kid needs something like spikes, he’s there for them. He’s just a great guy to have on our staff.”
Holt began coaching in Elkhart after moving back from Indianapolis. He was an assistant on Jim Eger’s staff and also coached in the girls program and at West Side Middle School in Elkhart.
“Growing up, I had no one to point me in the right direction,” Holt said. “I see all the talent that Elkhart has. I’m dedicated to Elkhart. I’m an Elkhart kid. I’m very tough on my guys, but they know I always have their back no matter what.”
Newbern, who has been the Northern Indiana Conference MVP in 2025 and 2026, finished fourth in the 200 last year at the state finals. He also ran on the 4×100 relay team with his brother and two seniors that placed ninth in a time of 42.21.
“I feel great physically, and mentally I’m prepared for Saturday,” Newbern said. “I’m not going to tell you that I’m going to win the 200, but I damn sure will not come in last. I know there are guys with faster times, but that does not matter. I’m not worried about who is next to me. I’m racing the clock. Always.”
Newbern recently earned the prestigious Bringle Award as the top senior male athlete at EHS.
Holt expects that his all will be plenty good enough for his star pupil to be in contention to be on the top of the awards podium.
“I do expect Alonzo to compete for a state championship,” Holt said. “His will to win is ridiculous. To fuel him, I tell him other guys times. I do that, like a brother, to irritate him.
“Alonzo is very confident in himself, but he is also very humble. He is just a living testament to his faith. I believe that he believes he will win every race every time. He and his brother are just a coach’s dream.”
Holt has a genuine love for all of his guys.
“To see my boys smile and light up is why I do this,” Holt explained. “A lot of these guys have been counted out. … I will take my guys 10 times out of 10 times against anyone’s. I see myself in a lot of these kids.”
It’s a self too that these Elkhart kids are lucky to have.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Dominique Holt more than just a coach to Elkhart sprinters
Reporting by Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
