East Carolina's Skip Holtz has taken the job at South Florida, CBSSports.com has learned.
One of the most respected coaches in the game, Holtz went to the Bulls after his name had been mentioned for several openings in the last few years. Holtz was contacted Saturday night by the school after Jim Leavitt was fired on Friday. Leavitt was accused of grabbing a player by the throat and slapping him twice.
A school investigation contended that not only was the accusation true but also that Leavitt had impeded the investigation.
The hiring of Holtz perhaps begins the healing process at South Florida. Holtz, son of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, is known as an overachiever having led both Connecticut and East Carolina to first-place finishes in their conferences.
In his last season at UConn, Holtz led the Huskies to their first-ever I-AA postseason. His past two East Carolina teams have won Conference USA titles. In 2007 and 2008 he led the Pirates to three consecutive victories over ranked teams (Boise State in the bowl; Virginia Tech and West Virginia to begin the 2008 season). At South Florida, he will have access to better players with better facilities and be playing for a BCS bowl each year.
Bobby Bowden gave Holtz his first job in 1987 as a grad assistant at Florida State. Holtz coached with his father at Notre Dame and South Carolina. He was offensive coordinator at both schools.
Other names associated with the job include Michigan assistant Calvin Magee, Florida assistant Dan McCarney and Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. Canesport.com reported Wednesday that Whipple had become the leading candidate.
"There's a lot of positives to it," Holtz said Tuesday of South Florida. "It's definitely an up and coming program."
Holtz was 38-27 in five years at East Carolina and is 76-49 overall.
Skip Holtz to South Florida
Posted on: January 14, 2010 12:44 pm
Edited on: January 14, 2010 1:22 pm
Score: 138
Comments Add a Comment
G8trBaitHater
Reputation: 92Level: All-Star Since: Sep 7, 2006 |
Posted on: January 16, 2010 5:37 am
Score: 128
Skip Holtz to South Florida |
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J-lo7
Reputation: 51 Level: Pro Since: Jul 29, 2008 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 5:42 pm
Score: 46
Skip Holtz to South FloridaMany Major programs do not own their own Stadium. Ex. Miami, Pitt, USC, UCLA, etc.
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CarolnaFaithful Level: Superstar Since: Oct 13, 2007 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 4:51 pm
Score: 123
Skip Holtz to South Florida"I honestly think that the Big East is going to be very strong in a few years, at least stronger than maybe the ACC."
I personally would say that the Big East is already better than the ACC. So...who's to coach at East Carolina? Hey Pirate fans, what would ya'll think about Rick Stockstill? He wasn't very successful there when he was the OC, but he got Middle Tennessee to win ten games this year. He also led them to their first bowl game...and this season, their first bowl win. It would kind of funny if they hired Jim Leavitt. I hope they don't hire Leach, though. As a Carolina fan who works closely with a Pirate, I wouldn't want them to be that good.  |
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Pirate_Nation Level: Superstar Since: Jan 31, 2008 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 4:11 pm
Score: 50
Skip Holtz to South Florida: QuitterScrew You Skip Holtz!!
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Orlando Cowboy
Reputation: 48Level: Rookie Since: Feb 3, 2009 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 3:46 pm
Score: 115
Skip Holtz to South FloridaThat's funny Tampa Homer!! No I am not a UCF fan but certainly think they are running right there with you soon as at least they have a stadium on campus but alas they are not BCS (BS)..
Hey get hyped up about this I am happy for you and USF. Many schools have felt this is "Our time"....reality is Big East is weak and can not comptete with anyone but ACC(thats questionable) in the BCS conferences. Sorry that is the facts. Oh maybe USF steps it up a notch...been heasring that for 4 or 5 yrs and it never happens. Made it to 2nd in the nation during a season....only someone from a school that has accomplished nothing spectacular would point to that. U of Florida is King and you need to just bow down to them and the SEC . The SEC rules the South/College football and you have no choice in the matter. Miami is on their way up and has a storied history and FSU snagged quite a few top recruits this year still. I have forgotten more football than you probably know....you are a homer and you will be given your wake up call once things get going and the luster has warn off. College football as a whole still needs to have playoffs to really make this the best it can be..... |
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Easternlion
Reputation: 89 Level: All-Star Since: May 14, 2008 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 3:43 pm
Score: 106
Skip Holtz NOT to South FloridaESPN has posted that the ECU AD has stated that Skip Holtz has NOT been offered the HC job at USF, nor has he told them he would accpet it if offered.
Maybe Dodd knows something that Skip Holtz will do before Skip Holtz knows it? The ECU AD did state that Holtz has remained oepn and kept in communication with him about the situation. That Holtz stated he would finalize any discussion with USF by Friday. OK, I'll give Dodd the benefit of the doubt for PRE-claiming Holtz as the new HC of USF. However, isn't Tennessee looking for a new coach also this week? Hmmmmmm?? And what if they do get Will Muschamp? It's like this college coaching carousel never seems to end. |
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Create Playoffs
Reputation: 47 Level: Rookie Since: Nov 24, 2008 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 3:40 pm
Score: 45
Successful Coach Leaves non-BCS tm. for BCS tm.Another promising, successful coach from a non-BCS team whisked away by a BCS team for bigger money and a chance to play for the NC. This is another example of why the BCS system needs to be abolished. |
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14USFBULLS Level: Superstar Since: Jul 8, 2007 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 3:33 pm
Score: 73
Skip Holtz to South FloridaOrlando Cowboy,
You know nothing about USF football...You are probably some bitter, whiny UCF fan that again can't bear to see USF making moves to improve while UCF is stuck in neutral in C-USA with that Super Gem....George O'Leary. Isn't UCF due for a 4-8 season?.....Rookie. |
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G8trBaitHater
Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 7, 2006 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 3:20 pm
Score: 138
Skip Holtz to South FloridaHey buddy remember back when USF was number 2 in the BCS at on point!?!? If they ran the table right they could have went undefeated and had a shot for a National Championship but instead sunk ship like the Titanic. Jim Leavitt in my eyes just couldn't win the games he should have. It could be a possibility that Skip Holtz is indeed quite a recruiter and hell of a game planner. I live in St. Petersburg and was born and raised in Tampa, been to the Kansas vs USF game when our kicker won the game with a last second field goal on national television and I attended the West Virginia game to in 2007. I see a bright future playing down in the Bull Country.
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G8trBaitHater
Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 7, 2006 |
Posted on: January 14, 2010 3:20 pm
Score: 136
Skip Holtz to South FloridaHey buddy remember back when USF was number 2 in the BCS at on point!?!? If they ran the table right they could have went undefeated and had a shot for a National Championship but instead sunk ship like the Titanic. Jim Leavitt in my eyes just couldn't win the games he should have. It could be a possibility that Skip Holtz is indeed quite a recruiter and hell of a game planner. I live in St. Petersburg and was born and raised in Tampa, been to the Kansas vs USF game when our kicker won the game with a last second field goal on national television and I attended the West Virginia game to in 2007. I see a bright future playing down in the Bull Country.
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Anyways, I can't wait for college football to be back because I am anxious to the maximum now that John Brantley is anointed the starting quarterback for the new and improved offense(Hopefully ala Steve Spurrier 1996 type) The Fun and Gun! :)
Go Gators!