Now in his 12th season at Eastern Kentucky, Donn Landholm begins a new role this year as recruiting coordinator to go along with his linebacker coaching duties. All three starting linebackers from the 2007 team, including two all-conference performers, graduated leaving Landholm quite a challenge for the upcoming fall.
“Donn and I worked together under Coach Kidd,” head coach Dean Hood said. “He is a guy that pays attention to detail and is ultra-organized. It’s neat to see how much he has grown as a coach since I was here in the late 1990s.”
Before taking on the role as recruiting coordinator, Landholm served three years as the Colonels’ defensive coordinator (2005-07). Last year, the EKU defense led the nation in turnover margin at plus-18. In both 2005 and 2006, Landholm’s defensive units were ranked among the Ohio Valley Conference’s top three in total defense. The 2006 Colonels held the opposition to a 17.6 percent conversion rate on fourth down attempts, the best mark in the league. Also in 2006, the EKU defense paced the OVC in turnovers on downs inside the red zone, forcing four such turnovers.
Landholm was in charge of the special teams units from 2002-07 as well. Eastern’s special teams were crucial in the win at Jacksonville State last year, as the Colonels returned two kicks for touchdowns. The 2006 kick-off return group ranked first in the OVC and ninth nationally averaging 22.86 yards per return. Davin Walker was a major part of Eastern’s success in 2006 as he ranked 11th nationally in kick returns with a 25.43 ypr average.
In 2003, Eastern Kentucky led the nation in punt return yardage (16.46 ypr). The following year, the Colonels led the conference and ranked 15th nationally in kick return average (22.0 ypr) while ranking 13th in the country in punt return average (12.75 ypr).
Landholm’s EKU career seems to have come full circle as he was in charge of the EKU linebackers from 1997-04. He pushed linebacker Justen Rivers towards a great season in 2004 when he won OVC Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Landholm came to EKU from Blinn (Texas) Junior College where he spent four seasons as the offensive line coach. During his tenure, Blinn completed back-to-back 12-0 seasons in 1995 and 1996, winning the national junior college championships in both campaigns. His Blinn team also competed in the 1994 Mineral Water Bowl.
Prior to his stint at Blinn, Landholm spent a year as an assistant at PSJA North High School in Pharr, Texas, coaching linebackers and special teams.
From 1987-91, Landholm served as an assistant at Arizona State. He was a graduate assistant with the Sun Devil defense in his first two years and helped ASU earn a berth in the 1987 Freedom Bowl. Landholm’s final three years with Arizona State were served as a volunteer coach working with the linebackers.
Landholm coached running backs at Montana State in 1986 and held the running backs position at Central Missouri State from 1984-1985.
Before entering his collegiate career, Landholm served as an assistant coach at Plainview (Neb.) High School from 1979-81 before ascending to head coach at Plainview from 1982-83.
Landholm spent his collegiate playing career at Wayne State College, playing outside linebacker at the Nebraska school. The Bristow, Neb., native earned his bachelor’s degree from WSU in 1979. He later received his master’s degree from Central Missouri in 1985.
Landholm and his wife Cindi, who happens to be an EKU alumnus, have three children – Kristen (18), Sarah (16) and Kate (7).
