University of Georgia Athletics
Holland-Corn Completes Collegiate Career
May 09, 2009 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. --- Just over a dozen years after she captured three championship rings playing for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, Kedra Holland-Corn collected equally essential items to complete her University of Georgia career on Saturday. Holland-Corn took part in graduation ceremonies at Sanford Stadium, obtaining her bachelor's degree in Sociology and the medal awarded to all UGA graduating student-athletes.
Holland-Corn was an All-American for the Lady Bulldogs and helped lead Georgia to the 1995 Final Four, an NCAA runner-up finish and SEC Championship in 1996 and a second SEC title in 1997.
Soon thereafter, Holland-Corn began an extremely successful professional playing career that included a pair of WNBA titles with the Detroit Shock and stints internationally in France, Hungary, Spain and Italy.
"I never forgot about getting my degree," Holland-Corn said. "Before I went to college, I knew I wanted to play basketball, so when I got drafted, it was a dream come true. I always said I'd return to school, but I never said when."
When she retired a year ago, Holland-Corn turned her focus to unfinished business in Athens. She and her husband, Jesse, himself a former manager with the Lady Bulldogs, moved from Naples, Italy and rented an apartment less than a mile from Stegeman Coliseum. Kedra Holland-Corn "full-time athlete" became Kedra Holland-Corn "full-time student."
"I felt mentally and physically worn out from playing, and I felt my career was coming to a close, so I thought it was the perfect time to go back to school," she said. "It's about completing what I started back then."
Holland-Corn became the 52nd of Andy Landers' 54 four-year letterwinners to receive their degrees from UGA. Lady Hardmon Grooms and Danielle Taylor, the lone members of that ledger yet to earn a diploma, are slated to take part in graduation ceremonies this August and next May, respectively.
"I always knew Kedra would come back," Landers said. "Kedra was an excellent student but chose to change her major her senior year or she probably would have graduated on time."
Landers was there Saturday morning, along with Kedra's mother and Jesse's parents, all soaking up an achievement that Holland-Corn ranks alongside her accomplishments on the basketball court.
"Basketball at Georgia was all about working hard, persevering and never giving up," Holland-Corn said. "That was instilled in us by coach Landers. We were taught to never quit, to always finish to the end. I have no remorse or regrets about what I've done; if I had the same chance, I'd do it all again."