While working for the Akron Beacon Journal in 1993, Holley was one of several reporters who worked on a project studying race relations in Northeastern Ohio. The series, entitled "A Question of Color," won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Meritorious Public Service.

Holley worked as a reporter and columnist for the Boston Globe from 1997-2001 and then again from 2002-2005, briefly leaving the paper to work for the Chicago Tribune.

In 2005, Holley left the Globe to replace Bob Neumeier as co-host of the WEEI midday sports radio talk show. The show was renamed the Dale & Holley Show and features Holley and former Boston Bruins play-by-play announcer Dale Arnold who discuss the various Boston sports teams.

In October 2008, Holley replaced Donny Marshall as host of Celtics Now, a weekly progam on Comcast SportsNet that covers on and off court stories related to the Boston Celtics.

Holley is the author of three books one of which, Patriot Reign: Bill Belichick, the Coaches, and the Players Who Built a Champion, made the New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction.

Other media

Holley has appeared on the ESPN television program Around the Horn as well as I, Max on Fox Sports Net.

Michael Holley was born in Akron, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Point Park College in May 1992. On April 30, 2005 he gave the commencement speech to the class of 2005 at Point Park University, where he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Max Kellerman, graduate of Columbia University, often made verbal jabs at Point Park University while the two were featured on "I, Max."

Holley is married to Oni Holley; the couple married on July 14, 2007. The couple had their first child, Robinson Coltrane Holley on November 1, 2008.