Madonna Rogers Holladay
Class of 2001
Madonna Rogers Holladay grew up surrounded by athletics. As the daughter of the late T.E. “Cotton” Rogers, longtime basketball coach at Butler High School, she spent much of her childhood in gyms and on team buses traveling to games.
“My earliest memories are riding on a bus and going to ballgames with my father,” Holladay once recalled. “He touched the lives of many people throughout his athletic career. I’ve tried to follow his example.”
She did exactly that during a remarkable career as an educator and coach.
Holladay, who is married to former Athens College basketball standout Lynn Holladay, began her teaching and coaching career at Evangel School before moving to Sparkman High School, where she served from 1973 until 1998.
At Sparkman, she helped build the foundation for girls’ athletics by starting the school’s basketball, volleyball and track programs. Each program flourished under her leadership, but it was in cheerleading where Holladay made her most lasting mark.
As coach of the Sparkman cheerleading squads, Holladay developed one of the most successful programs in the state. Her teams captured seven state championships and earned three national championships in 1993, 1997 and 1998.
Her influence extended far beyond competition. Through her leadership, 29 Sparkman cheerleaders earned college cheerleading scholarships, opening educational opportunities for many young women.
Throughout her career, Holladay emphasized discipline, teamwork and character — values she learned growing up in a coaching family.
By the time she retired from Sparkman High School, Madonna Rogers Holladay had touched the lives of countless students and athletes, leaving a legacy of excellence that continues to shape the school’s athletic programs today.
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