A Family Tribute
Charlie
Holmes
"Crunch Ramrod" · Player. Coach. Legend.
From Norristown, PA to Maryland State College, from the NFL Draft to 23 winning seasons as a coach — Charlie Holmes has given everything to the game of football, and even more to the young men whose lives he has shaped.
He doesn't just coach football.
He coaches life.
— His Players
On the Field
Playing Career
Running Back
Norristown High School · Norristown, PA
Charlie "Crunch Ramrod" Holmes grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he first made his mark on the gridiron. His explosive running style and physical play earned him the nicknames that follow him to this day.
Early 1950s · Norristown High School · Norristown, PA
Running Back · Team Captain
Maryland State College (MSC) · The Hawks
Recruited by "Skip" McCain to attend Maryland State College in 1958. In his senior year of 1961, Charles was named team captain. During his career at MSC, the Hawks compiled an overall record of 20 wins, 7 losses, and 1 tie.
1958 – 1962 · Maryland State College (MSC) · The Hawks
All-CIAA · Little All-American
Maryland State College
Named to the All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 1960 and to the Pittsburgh Courier's Little All-American Team in 1961. These honors earned him an invitation to the Small College All-Star Game in Tucson, Arizona.
1960 – 1961 · Maryland State College
NFL & AFL Draft Pick · 3rd Round
Baltimore Colts (NFL) & Denver Broncos (AFL)
At 6'3" and 227 pounds, Charlie was drafted in the third round of the 1962 draft by both the Baltimore Colts of the NFL and the Denver Broncos of the AFL — a testament to his exceptional talent. He graduated from MSC in 1962 with a degree in Sociology.
1962 · Baltimore Colts (NFL) & Denver Broncos (AFL)
On the Sideline
Coaching Career
Assistant Coach
Snow Hill High School
Charlie continued to pour his knowledge and passion into the next generation of players as an Assistant Coach at Snow Hill High School, mentoring young athletes and shaping lives both on and off the field.
Assistant Coach
Parkside High School
Returning to where it all began, Charlie continues to serve as Assistant Coach at Parkside High School — still on the sideline, still shaping young men, still coaching life.
Hall of Fame Inductee
Hawk Hall of Fame · Maryland State College
Inducted into the Hawk Hall of Fame at Maryland State College in 1981, honoring his outstanding playing career and the lasting impact he made on the program as a student-athlete.
Notable Players Coached
Ben Tate
NFL Running Back · Houston Texans
Marcus Yarns
FCS All-American · Houston Gamblers
Terez Worthy
Temple Owls · Running Back
"Every player who walked through that door left a better man."
April 26, 2025 · University of Maryland
MFCA Hall of Fame
Charlie Holmes was inducted at the 36th Annual MFCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the University of Maryland — and was honored with the prestigious John Voigt Award.
Special Honor
John Voigt Assistant Coach Award
Presented at the 36th Annual MFCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony — recognizing Charlie's extraordinary lifetime of service, leadership, and dedication to the game of football at Parkside High School.
Official Program Bio
Charlie Holmes · Parkside High School · John Voigt Assistant Coach Award
Official Program Cover
John Voigt Award — All Recipients
Baltimore Ravens Congratulations Page
Ceremony Photo
Charlie Holmes surrounded by family & friends · MFCA Ceremony 2025
Charlie Holmes at the podium · University of Maryland · April 26, 2025
In the News
Articles & Publications
Newspaper clippings, awards write-ups, and press coverage celebrating Charlie's remarkable career on and off the field.
Charlie Holmes · Maryland State College — Freshman Year
Maryland State College · 1958 · Freshman Year
"Holmes And Taylor Repeat As All-Stars"
The Salisbury Times · December 18, 1961
Maryland State University Statistics — Holmes Named
The Salisbury Times · November 17, 1961
"4 Terps, 1 Hawk In Draft List" — Charlie Holmes Drafted
The Salisbury Times · December 5, 1961
"Signed by the Colts" — Charles Holmes #33
The Salisbury Times · 1962
Watch
Video Interview
A rare look at Charlie Holmes in his own words — player, coach, and legend.
2014 Interview
Charlie Holmes' Football Life
By Ryan Marshall · Delmarva Now · November 8, 2014
Charlie Holmes is a Hall of Famer for football at Maryland State College. He was drafted into the NFL. He started his own "Gridiron Gang" as a Corrections Official and coached up Ben Tate before becoming a Parkside coach.
Charlie Holmes — Player, Coach, Legend · Delmarva Now
Memories
Photo Gallery
Upload your photos to bring this gallery to life — game days, team photos, championship moments, and everything in between.
Charlie Holmes · Norristown High School
Marcus Yarns
Charlie Holmes · Maryland State College
Charlie Holmes · #45
Arizona State University — the legacy continues
With his players & community
Cheering in the stands
Charlie with proud family members
Proud family members
Coach Holmes with Family Members
Coach Holmes · Parkside Football
Proud Generations of Family Members
Maryland State College days — good times
Campus life · Maryland State College
Charlie Holmes — family man
CIAA Champions Ring
Marcus Yarns — FCS All-American · University of Delaware
Temple Owls vs Tulsa — Final Score 20-10
Temple Football — Owls Win!
UMES Hawks Football — School Colors: Maroon & Gray
Charlie with family & friends
Charlie surrounded by friends
Charlie with friends & former players
Charlie Holmes — still standing tall
A day at the pier — Charlie Holmes
Charlie Holmes with family — MFCA ceremony
Charlie Holmes — MFCA Hall of Fame celebration
Charlie Holmes — arriving at the MFCA ceremony
Charlie Holmes — MFCA ceremony group photo
Des Holmes — Signed by the Montreal Alouettes 2025
Temple Owls — Terrez Worthy, Running Back
Chase and friends — HBCU Homecoming
Charlie with friends — a night out
June 1959 — Charlie Holmes with a friend
Charlie with his grandchild — family first
Maryland State College Football — UMES Hawks
Charlie Holmes with family & friends · MFCA Ceremony 2025
Charlie Holmes at the podium · University of Maryland · 2025
Marcus Yarns
CIAA Champions 1957 — Meet the 1958 Edition of the Hawks · Charlie Holmes listed in 4th Row
Maryland State College Hawks — Team Photo
Denver Claims Hawks' Holmes Agrees To Sign — Newspaper Clipping
Saleem Brightwell — Breaking Away Against Clemson
Charlie Holmes and His Granddaughter Charlize
Rashan Gary & Saleem Brightwell — Making the Tackle
Share Your Memory
Leave a Tribute
Are you a current player, a colleague, a friend, or a family member? Coach Holmes is still on the sideline — still coaching, still inspiring. Share your message of support and let him know the impact he continues to make.
From the Family
Still Coaching. Still Inspiring.
Charles Julius "Crunch Ramrod" Holmes is more than a football player and a coach. He is a father, a mentor, and a cornerstone of his community. From the fields of Norristown, Pennsylvania to the halls of Maryland State College — where he was inducted into the Hawk Hall of Fame in 1981 — Charlie's journey is one of relentless determination and quiet greatness.
Drafted by both the Baltimore Colts and the Denver Broncos in 1962, he could have chased personal glory. Instead, he chose to pour his gifts back into the next generation — coaching for over two decades and building 23 winning seasons at Parkside High School. The lessons he teaches on the field are the same ones he lives every single day.
"The measure of a man is not in the trophies he wins, but in the hearts he fills."
— Charlie Holmes