David Hollingsworth

2011 Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: Coaching

David was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He moved to Flint in 1968 and was hired by the Beecher School District. David’s first job was a teacher at Marion Harrow Elementary School. Dave went from elementary to Dolan Jr. High as a science and physical education teacher, along with coaching ninth-grade football and basketball.

In 1974 Dave transferred to Beecher High School and assisted the varsity football team as quarterback coach from 1974 to 1976. He also coached the boy’s junior varsity basketball team and was assistant varsity basketball coach under Mike Bedore and Mose Lacy.

In 1974, David became the girls’ varsity basketball coach, leading the Lady Bucs to 13 consecutive Big Nine Conference championships and 13 consecutive district titles. He had 35 consecutive games winning streak in the conference and won two state championships.

Between 1980 and 1987 David was named Big Nine Coach of the Year five times and Class B Coach of the Year three times. During his coaching career many of his players were awarded scholarships to attend college and continue their athletic skills in basketball.

David said Marie Williams was probably his best player. She was three times Class B All State, first team captain of all her three seasons, Beecher’s all-time leading scorer with 1,452 points, USA Today All American, Detroit Free Press Athlete of the Year and a finalist for the 1987 Miss Basketball.