Photo by: Catie Cleveland - College of Charleston
Home Run
7/15/2026 11:49:00 AM | Baseball
After surviving cancer as a toddler, Reece Holbrook finished his college baseball career playing for his dad, Chad.
Chad Holbrook will always remember Father's Day 2025. The College of Charleston baseball coach's oldest son, Reece Holbrook, announced after four years patrolling the outfield at the University of North Carolina that he was transferring to the College to play his final season for Dad.
"It was probably one of the coolest Father's Day gifts I've had," says Holbrook, who just finished his ninth season as the Cougars' head coach.
The fact that Reece is alive, let alone playing baseball at such a high level, is nothing short of a miracle.
When Reece was 2 years old, Chad and Jenn Holbrook noticed some unusual bruises on his legs and back. Chad chalked it up to his son's rambunctious nature. But when more bruises surfaced, the couple took him to the doctor.
After several tests, Reece was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that causes the body to produce large numbers of immature, nonfunctional white blood cells called lymphocytes.
"We were devastated," says Jenn. "Any time you hear the word cancer or leukemia, it's scary."
For the next three years, Reece spent days on end in the hospital undergoing treatment, which included painful chemotherapy and spinal taps.
"It was actually a blessing that Reece was diagnosed when he was so young," says Jenn. "He doesn't remember much about the treatments, and I think that's one reason he was so resilient."
Reece does, however, remember how nice and attentive the doctors and nurses were at the time. The pain, having no hair and the constant visits to the hospital were just part of his daily routine.
"I thought it was normal," says Reece.
In 2012, he was finally declared cancer free. Now, he is tested annually to make sure the leukemia hasn't come back.
"Reece fought the biggest fight of his life and won, so everything is just icing on the cake," says Jenn.
Coming out of Hammond School in Columbia, S.C., there was no guarantee that Reece would play for his father at the collegiate level. Reece wasn't sure he was ready to share the same locker room and dugout with his dad.
"I didn't have the urge to play for my dad because every father and son have their issues," says Reece.
The feeling was mutual.
"All Reece had heard his whole life was my voice when it came to baseball," says Chad.
Reece played in just 71 games over four seasons with the Tar Heels.
This season, as an everyday starter in the outfield with the Cougars, his role increased dramatically. He finished as one of the Cougars' top defensive players and had a solid year at the plate.
"It was a special season for our family," says Reece. "I wouldn't trade playing for my father for anything in the world."
Chad admits it was tough to separate being a father from being a coach when Reece was at the plate.
"As a father, my heart rate was different when Reece was at the plate," says Chad. "I had to teach myself that he was just another player, but it was a challenge because you want your child to succeed."
Chad realized early in the season that Jenn was not shy with her opinions on the subject.
"If she had come to the ballpark and Reece wasn't in the starting lineup, I knew I would probably have to find a couch to sleep on," laughs Chad. "She was a college athlete, so she understands, but I was coaching Reece, and Mom was coaching me."
"It was probably one of the coolest Father's Day gifts I've had," says Holbrook, who just finished his ninth season as the Cougars' head coach.
The fact that Reece is alive, let alone playing baseball at such a high level, is nothing short of a miracle.
When Reece was 2 years old, Chad and Jenn Holbrook noticed some unusual bruises on his legs and back. Chad chalked it up to his son's rambunctious nature. But when more bruises surfaced, the couple took him to the doctor.
After several tests, Reece was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that causes the body to produce large numbers of immature, nonfunctional white blood cells called lymphocytes.
"We were devastated," says Jenn. "Any time you hear the word cancer or leukemia, it's scary."
For the next three years, Reece spent days on end in the hospital undergoing treatment, which included painful chemotherapy and spinal taps.
"It was actually a blessing that Reece was diagnosed when he was so young," says Jenn. "He doesn't remember much about the treatments, and I think that's one reason he was so resilient."
Reece does, however, remember how nice and attentive the doctors and nurses were at the time. The pain, having no hair and the constant visits to the hospital were just part of his daily routine.
"I thought it was normal," says Reece.
In 2012, he was finally declared cancer free. Now, he is tested annually to make sure the leukemia hasn't come back.
"Reece fought the biggest fight of his life and won, so everything is just icing on the cake," says Jenn.
Coming out of Hammond School in Columbia, S.C., there was no guarantee that Reece would play for his father at the collegiate level. Reece wasn't sure he was ready to share the same locker room and dugout with his dad.
"I didn't have the urge to play for my dad because every father and son have their issues," says Reece.
The feeling was mutual.
"All Reece had heard his whole life was my voice when it came to baseball," says Chad.
Reece played in just 71 games over four seasons with the Tar Heels.
This season, as an everyday starter in the outfield with the Cougars, his role increased dramatically. He finished as one of the Cougars' top defensive players and had a solid year at the plate.
"It was a special season for our family," says Reece. "I wouldn't trade playing for my father for anything in the world."
Chad admits it was tough to separate being a father from being a coach when Reece was at the plate.
"As a father, my heart rate was different when Reece was at the plate," says Chad. "I had to teach myself that he was just another player, but it was a challenge because you want your child to succeed."
Chad realized early in the season that Jenn was not shy with her opinions on the subject.
"If she had come to the ballpark and Reece wasn't in the starting lineup, I knew I would probably have to find a couch to sleep on," laughs Chad. "She was a college athlete, so she understands, but I was coaching Reece, and Mom was coaching me."
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