Today and every day, UC Irvine and UCI Athletics take pride in honoring those that came before us and those who still to this day defend, serve, and protect this country as members of the military. With May as Military Appreciation Month, we spotlight the Holland family and their connection to the Anteater family and their deep roots in the service.

Mitch Holland is the Anteaters' volunteer assistant coach and first base coach for the baseball team. He was an All-Big West first baseman as a student-athlete himself playing in 2015 and 2016 and hitting .312 with 7 HR and 67 RBIs in 107 career games.

Mitch's family has a history in college athletics with his father playing baseball at Fresno State and brother, Zack, a former football player at USD, but all of them, especially Mitch, will be the first to give you perspective on what's really important.

"I did not serve, not even close, but I'm super proud of my family and especially my brother and what he and his friends have done."

The Holland family's service dates to World War II and the Korean War with each of his grandparents and his great uncle serving.

"If there was one thing I have felt the strongest about, it would be the military. It's always been around us as a family. We've heard stories and always looked up to my grandparents in a way."

Holland's dad's father, Alfred Holland, started into the service following in his brother's footsteps, Arthur Holland, who each served in the Navy. Alfred went to and graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis before becoming a submarine commander of the USS Bluegill. He continued as a commander in the Korean War, and even had Mitch's father at Pearl Harbor, serving as a career officer before retiring.

His brother also served in the Navy and became a prisoner of war in the Bataan Death March in the Philippines in World War II.

"He survived the week long march and was put on a ship with the other survivors. There was supposed to be a "Red Cross" on the side of the ship, but it wasn't there, and the American forces sank it thinking it was a Japanese ship."

His great uncle, Arthur, passed away because of that. Mitch's father is named after him, and Mitch's middle name is Arthur to honor him and his service. He feels the pride every day being able to coach college baseball, putting on the Anteater camouflage uniforms, and very much so at the recent Salute to Heroes Game at Anteater Ballpark.

"That day was fantastic getting all those veterans together. Our players got to meet and talk to the heroes we honored. The coolest thing about it all was every time one of them came up to me or anyone on the team, they would say things like 'you were worth it'. Anytime we can have anything like that, or any perspective to have around the team is great. As a student-athlete, you get wrapped up in school and sports and you can get lost in it. It's a fun opportunity have anyone that's done special things outside of baseball around the team and give perspective."

Mitch's mom's dad also served in the reserves and continues to honor the troops as a board member for the Wild Warrior Foundation that takes veterans on retreats doing things like fly fishing in Montana with his mom involved in the marketing as well.

To continue the family tradition, Mitch's brother joined the service as recent as a few years ago. Zack Holland was a football player at the University of San Diego playing there from 2014-17 as a tight end. Following his collegiate career, he had an office job, but was always hanging around his best friends who are active Navy SEALs and got the itch.

"He trained for a year, and then had it pushed back another year due to COVID but went through boot camp with about 300 others."

Zack is now proudly serving for the Navy aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. He and the crew watch every Anteater baseball game together from the ship including a friend of his nearby who played baseball at Oregon State.

Mitch finds any way to honor him and his family including wearing the camo Anteater jerseys.

"I only wore the green or blue camos last season for my brother and what he was going through. It's cool to feel part of something and support them in some little way that we can."

The sacrifices are minimal compared to what his grandfathers, great uncle, and brother have gone through, but the perspective provided Mitch says is immense.

"We get wrapped up in results, but at the end of the day, its college baseball. Always having that on my mind makes the bad days out here so much easier to manage, and I salute my family and everyone that has and still does serve."