Last Updated on September 26, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
Clay Holstad comes from an athletic Alabama family that played an important role in his journey from youth soccer in Birmingham to college success at the University of Kentucky and eventually professional football. Born on January 12, 2000, in Birmingham, Alabama, the midfielder grew up watching and learning from an older brother who was already achieving significant success in soccer.
Clay is the son of Douglas “Doug” Holstad and Julie Holstad, while his older brother, Hunter Holstad, also became an accomplished soccer player and competed at the United States Naval Academy. His mother has a collegiate sporting background of her own, having played tennis at Birmingham-Southern College. Clay has kept other areas of his personal life considerably more private, with no reliable public confirmation of a girlfriend, wife or children as of now.
Who Is Clay Holstad’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Clay Holstad has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through FC Dallas, Rhode Island FC, the University of Kentucky or another sufficiently reliable source.
Holstad maintains a public profile because of his professional soccer career, but coverage of him generally focuses on football, education, teammates and his progression through the professional game rather than romantic relationships.
Searches of established sports publications and publicly available professional profiles do not provide enough evidence to identify a current partner.
For that reason, photographs, social-media interactions or comments involving private individuals should not be treated as confirmation that someone is Clay Holstad’s girlfriend unless Holstad himself publicly establishes the relationship.
His current relationship status should therefore be considered private.
Is Clay Holstad Married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Clay Holstad is married.
His current FC Dallas and Rhode Island FC profiles do not identify a spouse, while interviews and features covering his career have not publicly announced a marriage.
As of now, no wife has been reliably identified.
Does Clay Holstad Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Clay Holstad has children.
Neither his professional club biographies nor profiles from his University of Kentucky career identify him as a father.
As of now, Clay Holstad therefore has no publicly confirmed sons or daughters.
Who Are Clay Holstad’s Parents?
Clay Holstad is the son of Douglas “Doug” Holstad and Julie Holstad.
The family relationship is particularly well supported through records connected with Clay’s older brother Hunter. The U.S. Naval Academy’s official biography of Hunter identifies him as the son of Douglas and Julie Holstad, while local Alabama reporting directly identifies Julie as Clay’s mother and describes Hunter as Clay’s older brother.
Family records also connect Doug and Julie with both Hunter and Clay, reinforcing the picture of a household in which sport and academic achievement were important.
Clay grew up in the Birmingham area and attended Oak Mountain High School, where both Holstad brothers became standout soccer players.
Clay Holstad’s Father: Douglas “Doug” Holstad
Clay Holstad’s father is Douglas Holstad, commonly known as Doug.
Doug has maintained a much lower public profile than his sons. Unlike Julie, whose own athletic background is documented in official college records, reliable sports sources provide little information about whether Doug competed in college athletics himself.
What can be established is that he and Julie raised two sons who both reached high levels in soccer and combined demanding athletic schedules with strong academic performance.
Hunter eventually entered the U.S. Naval Academy, while Clay attended the University of Kentucky, earned an engineering degree and later pursued graduate business studies while beginning his professional career.
Because Doug is not a public sports figure, details about his occupation and personal life should not be inferred from private databases or unrelated individuals sharing his name.
Clay Holstad’s Mother: Julie Holstad
Clay Holstad’s mother is Julie Holstad, and she has an athletic background of her own.
The U.S. Naval Academy states in Hunter Holstad’s official biography that Julie played tennis at Birmingham-Southern College.
Julie also spoke publicly about Clay’s development when he was a high school player at Oak Mountain.
During a 2017 feature about Clay being selected for Alabama’s North-South All-Star soccer game, Julie explained how her younger son’s physical development influenced the style of player he became.
Clay had often been smaller than many players around him while growing up. Julie believed that this forced him to develop greater technical ability rather than simply relying on strength and athleticism.
She contrasted his development with Hunter’s, explaining that Clay’s older brother matured physically earlier and could use his size and strength more effectively.
In Julie’s view, what initially appeared to be a disadvantage ultimately helped Clay become a more technically accomplished player.
Who Are Clay Holstad’s Siblings?
Clay Holstad has a publicly documented older brother named Hunter Holstad.
Hunter is approximately four years older than Clay and became an outstanding soccer player at Oak Mountain High School before joining the United States Naval Academy.
Available family records consistently identify Hunter and Clay together as the children or grandchildren within their immediate branch of the Holstad family.
No additional brother or sister has been clearly identified through authoritative sports sources, so Hunter is the only sibling who can be confidently documented publicly.
Clay Holstad’s Brother: Hunter Holstad
Hunter Holstad had a significant influence on Clay’s early soccer ambitions.
Before Clay reached statewide recognition himself, he had already watched his older brother achieve many of the same milestones.
Hunter played at Oak Mountain High School and became one of Alabama’s leading high school soccer players.
During his senior season, he helped Oak Mountain complete a 28-0-1 campaign and win another state championship. The team finished ranked number one nationally in major high school soccer polls.
Hunter scored 18 goals and contributed 16 assists during that senior campaign while serving as team captain.
He earned All-America recognition, was named Birmingham Metro Player of the Year and Shelby County Player of the Year, and was selected for Alabama’s North-South All-Star game.
Hunter Holstad Inspired Clay
Clay has spoken directly about how closely he followed his brother’s accomplishments.
In 2017, before participating in the North-South All-Star game himself, Clay remembered watching Hunter play in the same event approximately two years earlier.
Clay was described as his brother’s biggest fan and explained that watching Hunter made him want to achieve the same honor.
The experience provides one of the clearest examples of Hunter’s influence on his younger brother.
Rather than simply growing up alongside another player, Clay had an older sibling who was already demonstrating what could be achieved through soccer at Oak Mountain.
Hunter Holstad at the U.S. Naval Academy
Hunter continued his soccer career at the United States Naval Academy.
Navy’s official records show that he joined the men’s soccer program after graduating from Oak Mountain in 2016.
Although his playing opportunities at Navy were limited, Hunter distinguished himself academically.
He earned places on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and recorded a 4.00 grade-point average during his freshman year.
His combination of elite high school soccer, university athletics and academic achievement created another example for Clay as the younger brother considered his own college future.
The Holstad Family Has a Broader Sporting Tradition
Sport extends beyond Clay and Hunter within the Holstad family.
The U.S. Naval Academy confirms that their mother Julie played collegiate tennis at Birmingham-Southern College.
Hunter’s Navy biography also identifies the brothers’ uncle, Steve Holstad, as a former football player at the University of South Carolina.
That means Clay grew up in a family with experience in soccer, tennis and American football at collegiate level.
Clay eventually continued that tradition through NCAA Division I soccer at Kentucky before becoming a professional player.
Clay and Hunter Holstad at Oak Mountain High School
Both Holstad brothers became closely associated with Oak Mountain High School soccer in Birmingham.
Hunter established himself first, helping the school achieve national recognition and consecutive Alabama Class 7A state championships.
Clay followed several years later but developed a somewhat different style.
Because he did not mature physically as early as his older brother, Clay had to rely more heavily on technique, movement and soccer intelligence.
His high school coach and mother both viewed that challenge as something that ultimately strengthened his game.
Clay eventually earned his own North-South All-Star selection, following the exact milestone he had once watched Hunter achieve.
Clay Holstad’s Childhood Soccer Career
Holstad developed in Birmingham youth soccer before eventually playing for Birmingham United.
His time in Alabama helped prepare him for NCAA Division I soccer, but he was also an accomplished student.
That combination of academics and sport became particularly important when he chose the University of Kentucky.
Rather than treating college only as a route toward professional soccer, Holstad pursued one of the more demanding academic programs available while competing at the NCAA level.
Clay Holstad at the University of Kentucky
Holstad joined the Kentucky Wildcats in 2018 and remained with the program for five seasons.
Across his college career, he appeared in 85 matches and scored five goals.
His final season became the strongest of his college career.
In 2022, Holstad started all 21 matches he played and helped Kentucky complete an undefeated regular season and conference tournament run.
He was named the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player, earned Second Team All-Sun Belt recognition and was selected to the NCAA Division I All-Southeast Region Second Team.
Education Was Also Important to Clay Holstad
Clay’s achievements at Kentucky extended well beyond soccer.
He completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2022.
Holstad was also repeatedly recognized on academic honor rolls during his college career.
After finishing his engineering degree, he entered Kentucky’s one-year MBA program and continued graduate business studies while preparing for professional soccer.
When Columbus Crew selected him in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, Holstad continued working toward his MBA remotely while beginning his professional career in Ohio.
The combination of professional soccer, engineering and business education reflects an academic-athletic balance similar to the one seen in his older brother Hunter’s years at Navy.
Clay Holstad Begins His Professional Career
Columbus Crew selected Holstad with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
He subsequently signed with Columbus Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro.
Holstad made 26 appearances during his rookie professional season, including 19 starts.
The experience gave him his first opportunity to adjust from college soccer to the professional game.
Clay Holstad Joins Rhode Island FC
Rhode Island FC signed Holstad ahead of its inaugural USL Championship season in January 2024.
The move became an important breakthrough in his career.
Holstad established himself as one of the expansion club’s most dependable players and helped Rhode Island reach major postseason milestones during its first two seasons.
By the time he left temporarily for Major League Soccer in 2026, he had made 96 appearances across competitions for Rhode Island.
His consistency made him one of the defining players of the club’s early history.
Clay Holstad’s Long Friendship With JJ Williams
Another important relationship in Holstad’s football story is his friendship with fellow Birmingham native JJ Williams.
Although Williams is not a relative, the two have known each other since childhood and eventually became professional teammates at Rhode Island FC.
The pair grew up in Alabama soccer before following separate college and professional pathways.
Their careers later converged again in Rhode Island, giving Holstad another connection to his Birmingham roots while playing far from his family home.
Clay Holstad’s Move to FC Dallas
Holstad earned his first Major League Soccer opportunity in July 2026.
FC Dallas acquired him on loan from Rhode Island FC for the remainder of the 2026 season, with Dallas holding an option to make the transfer permanent.
The move made Holstad the first player in Rhode Island FC history to move directly to an MLS club.
It also rewarded several seasons of consistent professional performances after he initially entered the professional game through Columbus Crew 2.
Clay Holstad Makes His MLS Debut
Holstad made his Major League Soccer debut for FC Dallas on August 1, 2026, against the LA Galaxy.
He entered the match during the second half as Dallas earned a scoreless road draw.
The appearance represented another major milestone in a career that had progressed through Birmingham youth soccer, Oak Mountain High School, Kentucky, Columbus and Rhode Island.
For the Holstad family, it also meant both brothers had successfully followed demanding athletic paths, with Clay ultimately reaching Major League Soccer.
Clay Holstad’s Family FAQ
Who are Clay Holstad’s parents?
Clay Holstad’s parents are Douglas “Doug” Holstad and Julie Holstad.
Who is Clay Holstad’s mother?
Clay’s mother is Julie Holstad. She played college tennis at Birmingham-Southern College and has publicly discussed Clay’s development as a young soccer player.
Who is Clay Holstad’s father?
Clay’s father is Douglas “Doug” Holstad. He has kept a comparatively private profile, and reliable sports sources provide little additional information about his professional background.
Does Clay Holstad have siblings?
Yes. Clay has an older brother named Hunter Holstad.
Who is Hunter Holstad?
Hunter Holstad is Clay’s older brother. He was a standout soccer player at Oak Mountain High School and later joined the United States Naval Academy men’s soccer program.
Did Hunter Holstad influence Clay’s soccer career?
Yes. Clay has spoken about watching Hunter compete in Alabama’s North-South All-Star game and wanting to achieve the same honor. Clay later followed his brother by earning selection for the event himself.
Does Clay Holstad have a sister?
No sister has been reliably identified in authoritative public sources. Hunter is the only sibling clearly documented publicly.
Was Clay Holstad’s mother an athlete?
Yes. Julie Holstad played collegiate tennis at Birmingham-Southern College.
Does Clay Holstad come from an athletic family?
Yes. Clay and Hunter both became high-level soccer players, their mother Julie played college tennis, and their uncle Steve Holstad played college football at South Carolina.
Who is Clay Holstad’s girlfriend?
As of now, Clay Holstad has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through a reliable source.
Is Clay Holstad married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Clay Holstad is married.
Does Clay Holstad have children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Clay Holstad has children.
Where was Clay Holstad born?
Clay Holstad was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on January 12, 2000.
What did Clay Holstad study in college?
Holstad earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 2022 and later pursued an MBA.
Which club does Clay Holstad play for?
As of now, Clay Holstad plays for FC Dallas on loan from Rhode Island FC. Dallas acquired him in July 2026 for the remainder of the MLS season and holds an option to complete a permanent transfer.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
