Northwestern has hired Skip Holtz to serve as special assistant to interim coach David Braun for the 2023 college football season, the university announced Thursday. Holtz is tasked with assisting in areas including game preparation, day-to-day operations of the program and advising Braun.
"With his many years of head coaching experience and tremendous knowledge of the game, Coach Holtz will be an invaluable resource for myself, our coaching staff and student-athletes during the upcoming season," Braun said in a statement from the school. "I'm thrilled to welcome Coach Holtz to Evanston and can't wait to begin working with him."
The role is considered temporary and will not interfere with Holtz's position as coach of the USFL's Birmingham Stallions.
"I love coaching football and am passionate about leading young men to achieve their very best," Holtz said in a statement from the school. "This is a unique opportunity to help these outstanding student-athletes and partner with Coach Braun to do anything I can to help Northwestern football in 2023."
The son of longtime former college football coach Lou Holtz was previously linked to the position as Northwestern sought to add an experienced voice to Braun's staff for the 2023 season. Former Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt also interviewed for the job before removing himself from consideration.
Braun was thrown into the role of interim coach in mid-July after Northwestern fired longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald amid rampant hazing allegations within the program. Multiple lawsuits have been field on behalf of former Wildcat players with more than 30 are expected to be filed in total. One suit alleges that assistants were not only aware of hazing but also subjected to the activities during Fitzgerald's time guiding the program.
Holtz, 59, has coaching experience that dates back to 1987. He had college head coaching stops at UConn (1994-98), East Carolina (2005-09), South Florida (2010-12) and Louisiana Tech (2013-21). Holtz's Stallions have won back-to-back championships in the revamped USFL.
Braun is entering his first season at Northwestern after being hired as the defensive coordinator from North Dakota State. Northwestern was already looking to rebound from a 1-11 finish to the 2022 season -- tied with Colorado for the worst record in the Power Five last fall -- before the program was rocked by hazing allegations.
