Joe Holtzclaw is in his third season with the Mules in 2024.

Last season, Holtzclaw helped UCM to a school record-tying 11-2 overall record and MIAA Co-Championship, in addition to a NCAA-II second round playoff showing.

The Central Missouri offense set numerous single-season UCM and MIAA records, as well as several NCAA-II single-season records.

Holtzclaw’s offensive line helped the Mules average an NCAA Division II best 417.9 passing yards per game and 593.8 yards of total offense per game.

Gabe Clark was named a First Team All-American and All-MIAA, and garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-America accolades while fellow offensive linemen Liam Wortmann (second team) and Reed Kaburick (honorable mention) also earned All-MIAA recognition.

In his first season in Warrensburg in 2022, Holtzclaw’s offensive line helped the Mules rank third in the MIAA in passing with 2,712 yards through the air and 246.5 yards per game.

Holtzclaw coached All-MIAA Second Team lineman Dan Sunderman and Honorable Mention All-MIAA lineman Gabe Clark.

Clark not only succeeded on the field, but he excelled in the classroom, too, earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District accolades.

Holtzclaw came to UCM after serving as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Winona State University in Winona, Minn., for five seasons.

Under Holtzclaw, the Warriors had three First Team All-NSIC performers and multiple honorable mention selections.

Prior to his time at Winona State, he served as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at MIAA member Nebraska Kearney for two seasons.

In his two-year stint with the Lopers, Joe had four All-MIAA offensive linemen in fourth-year juniors and then seniors Zach Beard and Luke Browne. In the spring of 2016, Browne was voted as a team co-captain with Beard chosen to the Leadership Council for the Senior Class.

Holtzclaw came to UNK following a five-year stint at NAIA Hastings College, where he spent four falls as the offensive coordinator and offensive line and tight ends coach.

During his tenure, he helped the Broncos win 25 games and was part of a 2014 offense that ranked second in the Great Plains Athletic Conference in scoring (35.3) and yards (420.0).

In the spring and summer months, he was an assistant coach for the Nebraska Danger of the professional Indoor Football League (IFL).

Leading the defensive line for three seasons and coaching the offensive line for one, Holtzclaw helped the Danger reach the United Bowl in 2013 and 2014, the IFL’s championship game.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State. Serving as a graduate assistant (offensive line) in 2007 and 2008, he then remained on staff in 2009, leading the Bearcat tight ends.  

While in Maryville, Holtzclaw was part of a coaching staff that had two national runners up finishes and won the 2009 national title.

As player and captain for the Bearcats, he was a three-year starter (43 consecutive) for the offensive line and earned All-MIAA honors as a senior. Holtzclaw was a starter for Northwest’s 2005 and 2006 national runner up teams.

Joe and his wife, Dani, have two sons, Hayden and Kellan, and a daughter, Logan.