In the hallways of Fort Elliott CISD, 38-year-old Holly Lindley, the heart and soul of the Cougars volleyball and track programs, passed away unexpectedly on the evening of November 21, 2025. The news stunned the Texas Panhandle community, where Holly had coached for 14 years and shaped generations of student-athletes with her passion, discipline, and genuine care.
Holly graduated from West Texas A&M University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a teaching certificate. She returned to Fort Elliott in 2011 as a PE teacher and quickly took over both the volleyball and track programs, leading the Lady Cougars to multiple district titles and regional appearances.
Professionally, Holly taught middle school PE and health while coaching three sports (volleyball, basketball assistant, and head track). Colleagues admired her ability to juggle schedules, mentor young teachers, and still have energy for every game and meet. Her classroom and gym were safe spaces where kids felt seen and believed in.
Holly shared a ranch-style home just outside Wheeler with her husband of 12 years, a local farmer, and their two young children. Weekends revolved around family cattle work, church at First Baptist, and Sunday dinners with her parents and siblings nearby. She was the glue that kept extended family gatherings full of laughter and stories.
Holly lived an active, early-rising lifestyle with 5 a.m. workouts in the school weight room, followed by coffee on the porch watching sunrise over the plains. She stayed competitive through local 5K races and coached her own kids in backyard volleyball. Simple joys like baking cookies for team bus rides and decorating the gym for senior night reflected her giving spirit.
Fort Elliott CISD has canceled classes for mourning and plans a candlelight vigil on the volleyball court. A GoFundMe supports the Lindley family, while the district discusses naming the gym in her honor. The Panhandle remembers a coach whose love for her players outshone every scoreboard.