Cam Holding, an original member of the San Diego Seals, retires

Saying that “now the time just feels right,” Cam Holding — a member of the San Diego Seals since the club’s inception — announced Tuesday that he is retiring after 12 seasons in the National Lacrosse League.

The Seals selected the defenseman in the expansion draft ahead of the 2018-19 season. He spent six seasons with the club, appearing in 75 regular-season matches. He secured 157 loose balls and forced 20 takeaways during his first season with the club. In a career that included time with the Colorado Mammoth (2012-17), Holding secured 1,294 loose balls, forced 201 turnovers and had 42 blocks.

In a sport with so much transience, Holding, 36, not only stayed in San Diego but built a life here.

“Coming to San Diego in 2018 was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Holding said, “and although I am retiring from the field, I will still be embedded in the community for years to come.”

Few pro athletes in San Diego do as much off the field.

Holding spent a year as the project and construction manager for a practice field at Ryan Family YMCA, the Seals’ longtime training ground. He was also the operations manager for the Seals’ 2023 outdoor game against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Snapdragon Stadium.

Holding founded the Junior Seals program, which the team said “served as a catalyst for youth box lacrosse in San Diego.” He also started the San Diego Royals, who have won three National Collegiate Box Series titles, and for the last few years has coached at Santa Fe Christian.

Holding will join Mad Dog Lacrosse as national box lacrosse director while maintaining an off-field role with the Seals.

“Cam’s had a heck of a career in this League and he’s the epitome of everything that it means to be a Seal,” Seals coach and general manager Patrick Merrill said. “Guys like him don’t come along very often, and he’s going to be hard to replace both as a leader on the field and inside the locker room. It’s always tough to see guys walk away from the game, but I’m happy for Cam that he’s getting a chance to do so on his own terms. He’ll definitely be missed.”