Holman Copeland - Cornerbacks - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Holman Copeland

Title:
Cornerbacks
Email:
Phone:
716-645-6820

Holman Copeland is in his third year on the coaching staff at Buffalo and will return for his second season as cornerbacks coach after coaching the defensive backs in 2023.

In 2024, the Bulls went 9-4 and defeated Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl.

Copeland helped coach a defense that led the Mid-American Conference in interceptions with 13 in 2024. Cornerback Marquis Cooper set a school record with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win over UMass.

Buffalo tied for third in the MAC in interceptions with 11 in 2023. True freshman cornerback Charles McCartherens ranked second on the team with three interceptions on the year.

It's a homecoming of sorts for Copeland who was a graduate assistant on the UB staff in 2012 and 2013. He spent the last four seasons at as cornerbacks coach at Delaware. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator prior to the 2022 campaign.

In 2022, the Blue Hens went 8-5 and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Delaware led the CAA in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense. They totaled eight interceptions and 33 pass breakups on the season. Cornerback Justin Henley was named was All-CAA Second Team selection.

In 2021, the Delaware defense ranked fifth in the CAA in passing defense, allowing just 204.9 yards per game through the air. UD's cornerbacks had a stellar season as they combined for five interceptions and 16 pass breakups. Nijuel Hill was an All-CAA Second Team selection and eventual signed with the Washington Commanders as an UDFA.

During the Blue & Gold's run to the FCS Semifinals in the 2020-21 spring season, the defense was absolutely dominant leading the CAA in both scoring defense (14.4 ppg) and passing defense (118.4 ypg). Hill earned his first All-CAA nod as he was named to the second team while also earning Second Team All-American (Stats Perform) honors.

Prior Delaware, Copeland spent two seasons (2017-18) at William & Mary where he was the secondary coach and an assistant special teams coordinator. During his first season in Williamsburg, Copeland was instrumental in developing W&M's secondary. He helped mentor two of the league's top players in Aaron Swinton and Raeshawn Smith and safety Corey Parker was an All-CAA Third Team selection.

The Tribe had two members of its secondary earn All-CAA honors in 2018, led by safety Isaiah Laster earning a second team nod. Parker earned his second-straight postseason honor as he was named to the All-CAA Second Team. In addition, Copeland helped push the secondary at William & Mary to a top-25 national ranking in passing yards allowed (190.0 ypg) in 2018.

Copeland joined the Tribe's staff after a three-year stint (2014-16) as an assistant at Central Connecticut State where he served as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. During his successful stint at CCSU, Copland produced four all-conference selections.

Copeland worked as a graduate assistant at UB for two seasons (2012-13). In addition to mentoring and helping develop NFL first-round selection Khalil Mack as a linebackers assistant in 2012, he coached the secondary the following season and helped the Bulls rank second in the Mid-American Conference in both total defense and scoring defense. Buffalo also earned a bid to the Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013.

Copeland's resume also includes a pair of one-year stints as the secondary coach at East Stroudsburg University (2011) and the University of New Haven (2010). He produced a pair of all-conference cornerbacks during both seasons, while his unit helped ESU lead the league in interceptions during the 2011 campaign. Additionally, New Haven won the NE-10 Championship in 2010.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at East Stroudsburg and then spent a season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Harry S. Truman (Levittown, PA) in 2009.

Copeland was a two-year letterwinner at Clarion University of Pennsylvania where he played safety. He graduated from Clarion in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and a minor in sport management. He earned his Master of Science degree in sport management from East Stroudsburg.