PROFESSIONAL COACHES / PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
COACH: Professional Goalkeeper Brian Holt
Brian Holt is a native of Omaha, Nebraska who is truly familiar with and has been influential in the local soccer community. Brian grew up playing for local Omaha clubs. He experienced winning six straight state championships as well as placing third at Nationals with his club team. After high school Brian became a four-year starter for Creighton University where he had a decorated career. He left his mark in the history books by setting multiple Creighton Soccer and NCAA records. Brian achieved numerous honors each season while helping earn the team an Elite Eight appearance and a return to the Final Four.
Brian is a 9-year professional goalkeeper who has made a name for himself for his explosiveness, quick reflexes, shot-stopping ability, footwork, and ability to possess the ball in the back. This veteran goalkeeper has played for the Philadelphia Union (MLS), New York Cosmos (NASL), Jacksonville Armada (NASL), Louisville City FC (USL), and Harrisburg City Islanders (USL). He has played not just across the country, but the world. He has had the opportunity to play in countries such as Cuba, Honk Kong, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, Peru, and Canada. Along with suiting up with some of the top players in the world like Raul, Kleberson, Marcos Senna, and Juan Arango to mention a few, and against some of the top teams in the world from different leagues like La Liga and Premier League. Brian even made the SportsCenter Top10 with his double save against the Cuban National Team.
Coaching Experience: Brian has been providing individual and small group training for over 10 years. He has also run goalkeeper training for youth, college, and professional team camps / clinics. He has experience as a college goalkeeper coach for multiple universities across a variety of divisions, as well as for multiple youth academies such as Philadelphia Union Academy and the New York Cosmos Academy. Now you have the opportunity to train with a coach that has a wide range of first hand experience and truly knows how to get the most out of each player!
COACH: Creighton Men's Goalkeeper Coach Mike Gabb
Former Bluejay goalkeeper Michael Gabb enters his eighth season as Creighton’s goalkeeping coach. Gabb returned to Omaha to take over as an assistant prior to the 2016 season.
Helping the Bluejay goalkeepers adjust to a more attacking style of defense with three along the backline, Gabb’s instruction shined when the moment grew to its biggest. During the 2022 run to the College Cup, Creighton limited its opposition to 1.13 GAA over the final eight matches. The most impressive performances saw Creighton shut out Seton Hall and No. 14 Georgetown to win the BIG EAST Tournament, then hold No. 1 Washington to one goal in a road win during the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Gabb helped senior goalkeeper Paul Kruse claim All-BIG EAST Third Team honors for the second consecutive season and third time during his career. Over his last seven seasons, Gabb has coached a Bluejay goalkeeper to an All-BIG EAST spot four times.
The Omaha native helped the Bluejays post a 1.23 goals against average during the 2021 season as the Bluejays returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Gabb also guided Creighton’s goalkeepers to a 1.23 goals against average as Kruse and Collin Valdivia split time in goal during 2019.
The 2002 graduate helped guide Kruse to 2018 All-BIG EAST Second Team honors and unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team. Kruse posted a 0.64 goals against average, the fifth-best mark in program history and second-best by a freshman (0.51 by Brian Holt in 2008).
The 2017 Bluejay squad posted seven shutouts and held opponents to one goal or less a total of 10 times.
Gabb helped Alex Kapp earn NSCAA All-America and BIG EAST Co-Goalkeeper of the Year honors following the 2016 season as the senior transfer tallied seven shutouts and a 0.84 goals against average during his only season at Creighton. Atlanta United FC selected Kapp during the fourth round of the 2017 MLS Draft.
Prior to returning to Creighton, Gabb served as the director of goalkeeping at the Colorado Rush Soccer Club for five years, and spent two seasons as the goalkeepers coach for Metropolitan State University in Denver. He helped guide the Roadrunners to a 13-4-2 record and 1.12 goals against average in 2015.
He also spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Winthrop University in 2005-06. Additionally, he served as Director of Coaching at the Discoveries Soccer Club while attending school in Rock Hill, S.C.
As a player, Gabb spent five seasons with the Bluejays from 1998-2002 while playing for Bret Simon (1998-2000) and Bob Warming (2001-02). In 2007, he returned to his alma mater and spent one season as an assistant under Warming. During his collegiate playing career, Gabb helped lead the Bluejays to the College Cup twice, including the 2000 College Cup Final. In 2000, he set school records with 2,279 minutes in goal and 21 victories, while playing for Simon. The Bluejays won a program-best 22 matches during the 2000 season.
As a senior (2002), Gabb played every minute in goal to lead Creighton to its second College Cup appearance in three seasons. He earned Second Team All-MVC honors after accumulating a 0.96 goals against average and an 18-4-2 record. Gabb owns the fourth-most wins (41) all-time as a Creighton goalkeeper and the second-best winning percentage (.802).
The Bluejays won three Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships and made it to the NCAA Tournament each season during his time as a player.
Following graduation from Creighton in 2002, Gabb played professionally with the Syracuse Salty Dogs in the United Soccer League for one season. Gabb earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business from Creighton in 2002. He and his wife Bethany have three children, Jackson, Asher and Gage.