View source for Skip Holtz

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Skip Holtz
| image = 2017-0719-CUSA-SkipHoltz.jpg
| image_size = 
| alt = 
| caption = Holtz at 2017 C-USA Media Days
| current_team = Birmingham Stallions
| position = [[Head coach]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|3|12}}
| birth_place = [[Willimantic, Connecticut]], U.S.
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft = 
| height_in = 
| weight_lb = 
| high_school = [[Fayetteville High School (Arkansas)|Fayetteville]]<br>([[Fayetteville, Arkansas]])
| college = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]
| pastcoaching = 
* [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] (1987–1988) <br> Graduate assistant
* [[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State]] (1989) <br> Wide receivers coach
* [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] (1990–1991) <br> Wide receivers coach
* Notre Dame (1992–1993) <br> Offensive coordinator
* [[UConn Huskies football|Connecticut]] (1994–1998) <br> Head coach
* [[South Carolina Gamecocks football|South Carolina]] (1999–2003) <br> Assistant head coach & offensive coordinator
* South Carolina (2004) <br> Assistant head coach & quarterbacks coach
* [[East Carolina Pirates football|East Carolina]] (2005–2009) <br> Head coach
* [[South Florida Bulls football|South Florida]] (2010–2012) <br> Head coach
* [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech]] (2013–2021) <br> Head coach
* [[Birmingham Stallions (2022)|Birmingham Stallions]] ({{USFL Year|2022}}–present) <br> Head coach/offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
| pastexecutive = 
* [[Birmingham Stallions (2022)|Birmingham Stallions]] ({{USFL Year|2022}}) <br> General manager
| pastadmin = 
| highlights = 
;USFL/UFL
* 2× [[United States Football League (2022)|USFL champion]] ([[2022 USFL Championship Game|2022]], [[2023 USFL Championship Game|2023]])
* [[United Football League (2024)|UFL champion]] ([[2024 UFL Championship Game|2024]])
* [[USFL (2022)|USFL]] Coach of the Year ([[2023 USFL season|2023]]) 
;NCAA
* 2× [[Conference USA|C-USA]] (2008, 2009)
* 2× C-USA East Division (2008, 2009)
* 3× C-USA West Division (2014, 2016, 2019)
* [[Atlantic 10 Conference|Atlantic 10]] New England Division (1998)
* [[Conference USA|C-USA]] Coach of the Year (2016)
| regular_record = {{plainlist|
* USFL/UFL: {{Winning percentage|33|7|record=y}}
 }}
| playoff_record = 
USFL/UFL: {{Winning percentage|6|1|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{plainlist|
* College: {{Winning percentage|152|121|record=y}}
* USFL/UFL: {{Winning percentage|39|8|record=y}}
 }}
| pfrcoach = 
| CollegeHOF = 
}}
'''Louis Leo''' "'''Skip'''" '''Holtz Jr.''' (born March 12, 1964) is an [[American football]] coach who is the [[head coach]] for the [[Birmingham Stallions (2022)|Birmingham Stallions]] of the [[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]] (UFL). Holtz has led the team to two USFL Championships, in 2022 and 2023, and a UFL Championship in 2024. Previously, he was the head coach for the [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech Bulldogs]], [[South Florida Bulls football|South Florida Bulls]], [[East Carolina Pirates football|East Carolina Pirates]], and the [[Connecticut Huskies football|Connecticut Huskies]]. He has also served as an assistant coach for the [[South Carolina Gamecocks football|South Carolina Gamecocks]], [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame Fighting Irish]], [[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State Rams]], and the [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State Seminoles]]. 

Skip's father, [[Lou Holtz]], is a former head football coach and worked as a commentator on the television channel [[ESPN]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=New Assignments and Returning Commentators Highlight ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU College Football Coverage |work=ESPN |date=March 12, 2007 |url=http://www.espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2007_06_jun/20070628_CollegeFootballCommentators.htm |access-date=April 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911184605/http://espnmediazone.com/press_releases/2007_06_jun/20070628_CollegeFootballCommentators.htm |archive-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref> Due to his father's career as a collegiate football coach, Skip was exposed to football from an early age. He played [[college football]] at Notre Dame, where he played mostly on [[special teams]]. He joined the coaching ranks immediately upon graduation from college, working initially for [[Bobby Bowden]] as an assistant at Florida State. He gradually worked his way through the ranks at various [[NCAA Division I]] schools before being named head coach at Connecticut in 1994. He has an overall record of 152 wins and 121 losses as a head coach, including eight [[bowl game|bowl]] wins and two conference championships.

==Early life==
Skip Holtz grew up in many towns while his father coached football. After Skip was born in Connecticut, the Holtz family moved to [[Columbia, South Carolina]] for two years, as his father worked as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina. In 1968, the family moved to [[Columbus, Ohio]] after Holtz took a job at [[Ohio State University]]. One year later, the Holtz family moved to [[Williamsburg, Virginia]] and [[The College of William & Mary]] for Lou's first head coaching position. After two seasons, Lou took a head coaching position with the [[NC State Wolfpack football|Wolfpack]] of [[North Carolina State University]]. The family lived in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]] for four years until Lou accepted a head coaching job for the [[National Football League]]'s [[New York Jets]]. The family lived in [[Cold Spring Harbor, New York]] for one year, while Lou coached the Jets. After resigning from the Jets, Lou took his family back to the [[American South]] when he accepted the head coaching job in [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]], at the University of Arkansas in 1977. In Fayetteville, Skip attended Fayetteville High School and graduated in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lou Holtz |work=Coach Bio |publisher=BlueAndGold.com |year=2008 |url=http://www.blueandgold.com/coaches/coach.cfm?coachid=25 |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108115824/http://www.blueandgold.com/coaches/coach.cfm?coachid=25 |archive-date=November 8, 2006 }}</ref>

==Playing career==
While at high school in Fayetteville, Skip played for the school's football team at the quarterback position, bringing moderate success to the program. As a high school junior, he visited Notre Dame and met with head football coach [[Gerry Faust]] and head basketball coach [[Digger Phelps]]. In his final year of high school, Skip was denied admission to Notre Dame due to average grades and his failure to learn a foreign language. Coaches Faust and Phelps encouraged Skip to enroll at nearby [[Holy Cross College (Indiana)|Holy Cross College]], located adjacent to the university in [[Notre Dame, Indiana|Notre Dame]], [[Indiana]]. After two years of study at Holy Cross, Skip had improved his grades and transferred to Notre Dame. After his first year, Skip decided he wanted to speak with Coach Faust about [[Walk-on (sport term)|walking on]] to the football team during his senior year. The discussions were cut short, however, as after the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football#Gerry Faust (1981–1985)|1985 season]], Coach Faust resigned. Replacing Faust was Skip's father Lou. Skip began spring practice before the [[1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|1986 season]] as a quarterback, but quickly changed to [[wide receiver|flanker]] due to his lack of throwing ability. As a flanker, he earned 54&nbsp;yards on three [[Reception (American football)|reception]]s at the Blue-Gold intra-squad game in the spring of 1986. During the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football#Lou Holtz era (1986–1996)|fall of 1986]], Skip played in all 11 games on [[American football positions#Special teams|special teams]]. He never caught a pass, but [[Rush (American football)|rushed]] once for one yard.<ref name="ND Book">{{cite book|last=Hansen|first=Eric|title=Notre Dame: Where Have You Gone?|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|year=2005|location=South Bend, IN|pages=81–85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FLQZWs1LulUC&pg=PA81|isbn=1-58261-151-3}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Early positions===
[[File:Bobby Bowden.jpg|100px|left|thumb|Skip coached under Bobby Bowden for two years.]]Due to Skip's lack of success on the field and his desire to remain associated with football, he began to investigate the possibility of becoming a coach. After Skip told Lou he wanted to start coaching, Lou put together a list of potential coaches who would give him the best training. The list included [[Tom Osborne]], [[Joe Paterno]], and [[Terry Donahue]], but upon hearing of Skip's interest, [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] head coach [[Bobby Bowden]] said, "if you can be here in two days, I've got a job for you at Florida State."<ref name="Dadmag">{{cite web|last=Zenner|first=Tom|title=Notre Dame legend Lou Holtz made his son a believer-at home|work=Life Lessons From Coach's Playbook|publisher=DadMag.com|date=September 8, 2000|url=http://www.dadmag.com/guycenter/lou_holtz.php|access-date=March 9, 2008|archive-date=March 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324184634/http://www.dadmag.com/guycenter/lou_holtz.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
Upon arriving at Florida State in 1987, he became the graduate assistant coach.<ref name="UConn">{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=William |title=College Football; Skip Holtz Is Hired by UConn|work=The New York Times|date=December 23, 1993 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5DA113BF930A15751C1A965958260|access-date=March 8, 2008}}</ref> He met his future wife, Jennifer, in Coach Bowden's office while in [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]].<ref name="Meeting">{{cite news|last=Hudson|first=Jane Welborn|title=The four F's: Food, fun, fellowship and football for the Holtz family|publisher=The Daily Reflector|date=August 29, 2005|url=http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news/inthenews/archives/2005/08/082805homewithholtz.cfm|access-date=March 8, 2008|archive-date=September 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915112904/http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news/inthenews/archives/2005/08/082805homewithholtz.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He left after two years to become the wide receivers coach at Colorado State University under coach [[Earle Bruce]].<ref name="USC">{{cite web|title=Skip Holtz Profile|work=Football|publisher=University of South Carolina|url=http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holtz_skip00.html|access-date=March 8, 2008|archive-date=September 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918230731/http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holtz_skip00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> After one season, he went back to [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] to coach under his father.<ref name="USC"/>

===Notre Dame===
Holtz's first job at his [[alma mater]] was to serve as wide receivers coach, and he filled the position for two years. In [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football#Lou Holtz era (1986–1996)|1992]], the team began a search for a new [[offensive coordinator]]. Lou's first choice, Joe Moore, declined. Lou then asked Skip for recommendations to fill the position. Skip initially said he wanted the position but said of Lou, "he couldn't do it at that time with me [Skip] being his son."<ref name="ND Book"/> Skip then mentioned [[Mark Richt]], who was then the offensive coordinator at Florida State. Lou Holtz called Coach Bowden to ask permission to speak to Mark Richt. Coach Bowden said Holtz could hire Richt as long as he could hire Skip. Coach Holtz said, "Well, if I'm just going to switch coaches, I might as well hire Skip."<ref name="ND Book"/> Skip became Notre Dame's offensive coordinator in 1992. Between 1992 and [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football#Lou Holtz era (1986–1996)|1994]], Skip and his father recorded 40 wins, eight losses, and one tie, an 82.7% winning percentage. Together, they coached Notre Dame to the [[Cotton Bowl Classic]] twice, beating [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]] both times. Skip had the third-best [[total offense]] in the NCAA during the [[1991 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992 football season]].<ref name="ND Book"/>

===Connecticut===
Following his success at Notre Dame, Skip Holtz was asked to become the head coach of the [[Connecticut Huskies]]. He accepted the offer and took his first head coaching job on December 23, 1993. He replaced Tom Jackson, who had gone 14–19 over the past three years and had decided to resign on November 17, 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jackson Resigns as Connecticut's Coach|work=The New York Times|date=November 18, 1993|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE2DF123CF93BA25752C1A965958260 |access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A Holtz for UConn?|work=The New York Times|date=December 23, 1993 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5D6113FF931A15751C1A965958260|access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref> He agreed to a four-year contract at a salary of $95,000 a year. Even though Skip came from a "major football institution" (Notre Dame), University of Connecticut President Dr. Harry J. Hartley said that the hire "should not be seen as a signal that Connecticut intends to upgrade its program."<ref name="UConn"/> Despite Hartley's remarks, Holtz planned to help elevate the team from [[Division I (NCAA)#Football Championship Subdivision|I-AA]] to I-A. Holtz commented on Hartley's remarks by saying "I'd love to have the opportunity to coach a Division I team here...."<ref>{{cite news|last=Cavanaugh|first=Jack|title=A Winning Team (And Not Basketball)|work=The New York Times|date=November 8, 1998|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E3DF163EF93BA35752C1A96E958260 |access-date=March 8, 2008}}</ref> In 1998, UConn, after 100 years of football and five years with Skip Holtz as its head coach, played in its first Division I-AA playoff game. The Huskies scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Hampton University, 42–34.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cavanaugh |first=Jack|title=Sunshine on UConn's Shoulders in Playoffs|work=The New York Times|date=November 29, 1998 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E3DB1139F93AA15752C1A96E958260|access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref> In the next round of the playoffs, the Huskies lost to eventual [[runner-up]] [[Georgia Southern Eagles football|Georgia Southern]] on December 5. Two days later, Skip resigned as head coach of the Huskies in order to rejoin his father, who had taken the head coaching job at South Carolina the day before the Huskies' loss. As the leader of the Huskies football team, he accumulated a winning percentage of .596 (34–23) over five seasons.

===South Carolina===
[[File:Lou Holtz cropped.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Skip Holtz's father, Lou]]
On December 4, 1998, The University of South Carolina announced that Lou Holtz would serve as its next head football coach. Lou asked Skip if he would move down to Columbia to become his offensive coordinator—the same position Skip held during his final two years at Notre Dame. Skip accepted the offer, in part due to a desire to live closer to his parents and so his children could spend more time with their grandparents.<ref name="Dadmag"/> In 1996, Skip's mother, Beth, was diagnosed with [[Head and neck cancer|throat cancer]]. Two years later, the cancer spread to her [[liver cancer|liver]], [[lung cancer|lung]], [[adrenal cancer|adrenal glands]], and [[ovarian cancer|ovary]]. Meanwhile, Skip and Lou continued to coach football at South Carolina. As Lou began to struggle as head coach, the question of his eventual successor arose. When Skip was hired in 1998, Lou had included a clause in the hiring contract that Skip would succeed him after he retired. South Carolina Athletic Director Mike McGee rebutted by saying, "There are no formal or informal guarantees at him," and "It's always helpful to have potential succession in a staff."<ref>{{cite news |title=Skip Holtz To Join His Dad At S.C.|publisher=CBS Sportsline|date=December 7, 1998 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/skip-holtz-to-join-his-dad-at-sc/ |access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>

The 2000 and 2001 seasons brought South Carolina back to national prominence with consecutive Outback Bowl wins over Ohio State and season ending rankings in the Top 25. However, after going 5–7 the following two seasons and suffering a season-ending blowout in 2003 by intrastate rival [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]], Skip was demoted from the offensive coordinator and assistant head coaching positions to [[quarterbacks coach]]. Four assistant coaches—including the team's [[defensive coordinator]]—were fired in the same shakeup that saw Skip demoted.<ref>{{cite news|last=Haney |first=Travis |title=Holtz tries to change 'culture' |publisher=Augusta Chronicle |date=July 30, 2004 |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/073004/usc_1604353.shtml |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915042301/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/073004/usc_1604353.shtml |archive-date=September 15, 2008}}</ref> On November 22, 2004, one season after Skip's demotion, Lou Holtz announced he was retiring as head coach of South Carolina.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Lou Holtz Announces Retirement From Coaching|publisher=Gamecocks Online|date=November 22, 2004|url=http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112204aab.html|access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref> The next day, South Carolina announced [[Steve Spurrier]] as the next head football coach.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Steve Spurrier Announced as New Head Football Coach at South Carolina|publisher=Gamecocks Online|date=November 23, 2004 |url=http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112304aak.html|access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref> Coach Spurrier announced that he was keeping only three members of Lou Holtz's staff. Letters were sent to all the other staffers—including Skip Holtz—informing them that they likely would not be retained.<ref>{{cite news|last=Iacobelli|first=Pete|title=Spurrier assembles staff; Taps son to coach wide receivers|publisher=The Associated Press|date=November 29, 2004 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/2004-11-29-spurrier-assistants_x.htm|access-date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>

===East Carolina===
[[File:Skip Holtz in 2007.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Holtz at ECU in 2007.]]
With his firing imminent, Holtz resigned. Because he was formerly a head coach, Skip had several offers from Division I-A and Division I-AA teams. After several interviews, he elected to take the head coaching position at [[East Carolina University]]. East Carolina announced Skip Holtz as their 19th head football coach on December 3, 2004. Holtz assumed control of a program that won just three games in its past 25 contests.<ref>{{cite news|last=Myatt |first=Al |title=Holtz the chosen one to resurrect program |publisher=Bonesville.net |date=December 3, 2004 |url=http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/AlMyatt/2004/12/120304_Myatt.htm |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517111706/http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/AlMyatt/2004/12/120304_Myatt.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> Skip signed 23 athletes in his first recruiting class, including his first commit, Rob Kass. Also included in the recruiting class was future NFL player [[Aundrae Allison]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Thumbnail sketches of 23 players signed by ECU |work=Football Recruiting |publisher=Bonesville.net |date=February 4, 2005 |url=http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/OtherArticles/Recruiting/Recruiting_FB/2005/Thumbnails_2005.htm |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317124814/http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/OtherArticles/Recruiting/Recruiting_FB/2005/Thumbnails_2005.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2008 }}</ref> Skip's first victory at ECU came in the first game of the [[East Carolina Pirates football, 2000-2009#2005|2005 season]] as the Pirates defeated the [[Duke Blue Devils football|Duke Blue Devils]] 24–21 at [[Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium]]. The victory was ECU's first non-conference Division I win since 2000, when the Pirates won the [[Galleryfurniture.com Bowl]] against [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Myatt|first=Al |title=Therapy brought to you by Terry Holland|publisher=Bonesville.net|date=September 4, 2005 |url=http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/AlMyatt/2005/FB_Games/090405_Myatt.htm|access-date=March 9, 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916235027/http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/AlMyatt/2005/FB_Games/090405_Myatt.htm |archive-date=September 16, 2008}}</ref> During Holtz's [[East Carolina Pirates football, 2000-2009#2005|first season]], the Pirates also defeated conference foes [[Rice Owls football|Rice]], [[SMU Mustangs football|Southern Methodist University]], [[Marshall Thundering Herd football|Marshall University]], and the [[UAB Blazers football|University of Alabama Birmingham]].

In [[2006 East Carolina Pirates football team|2006]], Holtz's second season as head coach, ECU won seven games, including victories over intrastate rival [[North Carolina State University]], [[Conference USA]] East rival [[Southern Miss Golden Eagles football|Southern Miss]], and [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] foe [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]]. As a reward for their season, the Pirates earned their first bowl game under Holtz's tenure, playing the [[South Florida Bulls football|Bulls]] of the [[University of South Florida]] in the [[Papajohns.com Bowl]], losing 24–7.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Brien |first=Denny |title=Bulls expose holes for ECU |work=The Slants of the Game |publisher=Bonesville.net |date=December 24, 2006 |url=http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/DennyOBrien/2006/FB_Games/122406_OBrien.htm |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720022641/http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/DennyOBrien/2006/FB_Games/122406_OBrien.htm |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref> Despite the bowl loss, the 2006 season was ECU's first winning season since 2000, and the Papajohns.com Bowl was the Pirates' first bowl game since [[2001 GMAC Bowl|2001]].<ref name="CFDW">{{cite web|title=2005 |work=East Carolina Yearly Results |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |year=2008 |url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/conferenceusa/east_carolina/yearly_results.php?year=2005 |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422195943/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/conferenceusa/east_carolina/yearly_results.php?year=2005 |archive-date=April 22, 2008}}</ref>

In [[2007 East Carolina Pirates football team|2007]], Holtz's team won eight games, including wins over intrastate rival [[2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]] and going 3–2, versus Conference USA East opponents. Finishing second in the East Division, Holtz's team was invited to the [[2007 Hawai'i Bowl|Hawai'i Bowl]] to play #24 [[2007 Boise State Broncos football team|Boise State University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Standings|work=History/Records|publisher=Conference USA|url=http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/c-usa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-records|access-date=March 9, 2008|archive-date=September 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918225800/http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/c-usa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-records|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=East Carolina Pirates 2007 Football Schedule & Links |publisher=Bonesville.net|date=February 27, 2008 |url=http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/OtherArticles/Bonesville/Bonesville_Football/Schedules/2007.htm |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504192007/http://www.bonesville.net/Articles/OtherArticles/Bonesville/Bonesville_Football/Schedules/2007.htm |archive-date=May 4, 2008}}</ref> East Carolina won the bowl game 41–38. This was the first bowl victory since the [[2000 Galleryfurniture.com Bowl]] versus [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]]. It was also the first back-to-back winning season and bowl berth since the [[East Carolina Pirates football, 1990-1999#1999|1999]] and [[East Carolina Pirates football, 2000-2009#2000|2000]] seasons.

The [[2008 East Carolina Pirates football team|2008 season]] was opened with two upsets over ranked opponents; 17th ranked [[2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|Virginia Tech]] in week one and 8th ranked [[2008 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]. This was the first time a Conference USA team beat three ranked teams in a row. Skip finished up the season 9–5, which included a C-USA East Division title and C-USA Champions title. This was the first time the Pirates played in the C-USA Championship Game. It also was the first conference title since [[East Carolina Pirates football, 1970-1979#1976|1976]]. The Pirates played in the [[2009 Liberty Bowl|Liberty Bowl]], losing to [[2008 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]], 25–19. This was the third Liberty Bowl appearance. The last time the Pirates went to three straight bowl games was the [[East Carolina Pirates football, 1990-1999#1999|1999]], [[East Carolina Pirates football, 2000-2009#2000|2000]] and [[East Carolina Pirates football, 2000-2009#2001|2001]] seasons. In 2009 Skip Holtz led the ECU Pirates to a second CUSA championship.

===South Florida===
On January 14, 2010, it was announced that Holtz accepted the head coach position at the [[South Florida Bulls football|University of South Florida]], in Tampa, Florida, taking the place of the recently fired [[Jim Leavitt]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4826420|title=USF hires Holtz to replace Leavitt|date=January 14, 2010|work=ESPN}}</ref> A press conference to introduce Holtz to the community was held January 15, 2010. When someone in the crowd called out, "Beat [[Florida Gators football|Florida]]!", Holtz replied, "That's why I'm here!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4830178|title=Holtz introduced at South Florida|work=ESPN|date=January 15, 2010}}</ref> However, the Bulls would eventually end up on the short end of the stick in their match-up with the Gators later that season, 38–14.<ref>[http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/39119736/ns/sports-college_football No. 8 Florida 38, South Florida 14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914200838/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/39119736/ns/sports-college_football |date=September 14, 2010 }}.</ref>

Holtz earned his first win as head coach of the Bulls on September 1, 2010, in USF's season opener against [[Stony Brook Seawolves football|Stony Brook]] 59–14. Later that season, Holtz led his Bulls to the program's first victory over the [[2010 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami Hurricanes]]. At the end of the season Holtz lead the USF Bulls to a mostly dominant 31–26 victory over the [[2010 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson Tigers]] at the [[2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl|Meineke Car Care Bowl]]. This would mark the first Bowl victory for USF over a BCS team. The Bulls finished with an 8–5 record, but 3–4 in Big East play.

To start the [[2011 South Florida Bulls football team|2011 season]], Skip Holtz led the Bulls to an emotional homecoming against his alma mater, [[2011 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]]. After the 6 hour game and 2 rain delays, USF left South Bend with a 23–20 victory. However, the Bulls finished the season with a disappointing record of 5–7, 1–6 in [[2011 Big East Conference football season|Big East play]]. The [[2012 South Florida Bulls football team|2012 season]] was even worse as the Bulls fell to a dismal 3–9, 1–6 in [[2012 Big East Conference football season|Big East play]]. USF fired Holtz at the conclusion of the 2012 season.<ref>{{cite news | title=USF fires Skip Holtz, sources say | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8701597/south-florida-bulls-fire-skip-holtz-third-year | work=[[ESPN.com]] | first=Brett | last=McMurphy | date=December 2, 2012 | access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref>

===Louisiana Tech===
On December 13, 2012, Holtz accepted an offer to become the head coach for the [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech Bulldogs]].<ref name="HoltzLT">{{cite web | first=Brett | last=McMurphy | title=Skip Holtz headed to Louisiana Tech |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8745616/sources-skip-holtz-accepts-head-coaching-job-louisiana-tech-bulldogs |work=[[ESPN.com]] | date=December 13, 2012 | access-date=December 14, 2012}}</ref> His first season, [[2013 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|2013]], was a down year, as he finished well below expectations{{who's|date=December 2024}} at 4–8. However, [[2014 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|2014]] would see a big turnaround. Holtz's Bulldogs went on to finish first in C-USA West at 9–5 with a 35–18 win over [[2014 Illinois Fighting Illini football team|Illinois]] in the [[2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl (December)|Heart Of Dallas Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400610222|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908002850/http://espn.go.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400610222|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2015|title=Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech – Game Recap – December 26, 2014 – ESPN|website=ESPN|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> In [[2015 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|2015]], the Bulldogs continued their success finishing 9–4 and winning the [[2015 New Orleans Bowl|New Orleans Bowl]] over [[2015 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team|Arkansas State]], 47–28.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400852686|title=Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech – Game Recap – December 19, 2015 – ESPN|website=ESPN|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> The 2020 season saw a final record of 5–5, and also saw a disastrous{{why|date=December 2024}} 38-3 bowl loss to Georgia Southern. The 2021 season was even worse, with a final record of 3–9 (and no bowl invite) after which Holtz was fired by Louisiana Tech.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeyarajah |first=Shehan |date=November 26, 2021 |title=Louisiana Tech fires Skip Holtz: Bulldogs opt for coaching change after nine years amid 3–8 season |language=en |work=[[CBS Sports]] |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/louisiana-tech-fires-skip-holtz-bulldogs-opt-for-coaching-change-after-nine-years-amid-3-8-season/ |access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref>

===Birmingham Stallions===
[[File:HoustonRoughnecksvsBirminghamStallionsUFL41925-55 (54469967736).jpg|thumb|right|Holtz (left) with [[Case Cookus]] as coach of the [[Birmingham Stallions (2022)|Birmingham Stallions]]]]
On January 20, 2022, Holtz was named head coach and general manager of the [[Birmingham Stallions (2022)|Birmingham Stallions]] of the [[United States Football League (2022)|United States Football League]] (USFL).<ref>{{Cite web|last=DiLullo|first=Mikey|title=Former Louisiana Tech football coach Skip Holtz named coach of USFL's Birmingham Stallions|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/college/football/2022/01/20/skip-holtz-named-birmingham-stallions-coach-usfl-louisiana-tech/6595593001/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Tuscaloosa News|language=en-US}}</ref> During his stint in Birmingham, he led the team to USFL championships in 2022 and 2023 and a UFL championship in 2024.

==Personal life==
Holtz and his wife Jennifer Fitzgerald, whom he met while he was working at Florida State, have two sons and a daughter.<ref name="Meeting"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Skip Holtz Profile |work=Football |publisher=East Carolina Official Athletic Site |year=2008 |url=http://ecupirates.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holtz_skip00.html |access-date=March 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404084836/http://ecupirates.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/holtz_skip00.html |archive-date=April 4, 2008}}</ref> Holtz co-hosts the annual spring golf tournament named the ''Drew Steele-Skip Holtz Golf Classic''. Drew Steele is the son of former East Carolina basketball coach Mike Steele and has [[Down syndrome]]. When they first met, Holtz was impressed by Drew's positive attitude, and he has since called upon Drew to help motivate the football team, both as a speaker and through work with the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Birth of the DSSH Golf Classic |work=About DSSH |url=http://www.drewskip.com/about.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629111507/http://www.drewskip.com/about.aspx |archive-date=June 29, 2007}}</ref> The ''Drew Steele-Skip Holtz Golf Classic'' benefits citizens of [[Pitt County, North Carolina|Pitt County]] with special needs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Summers |first=Nathan| title = First Drew Steele-Skip Holtz Golf Classic raises thousands| publisher = The Daily Reflector |date=June 6, 2006 |url=http://www.reflector.com/news/content/news/steele-holtz/5classic.html|access-date=March 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701164713/http://www.reflector.com/news/content/news/steele-holtz/5classic.html |archive-date=July 1, 2007}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = TSN }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name         = [[UConn Huskies football|Connecticut Huskies]]
 | conf         = [[Yankee Conference]]
 | startyear    = 1994
 | endyear      = 1996
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season|1994]]
 | name         = [[1994 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]]
 | overall      = 4–7
 | conference   = 4–4
 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(New England)</small>
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1995 NCAA Division I-AA football season|1995]]
 | name         = [[1995 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]]
 | overall      = 8–3
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = 2nd <small> (New England) </small>
 | ranking      = 23
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season|1996]]
 | name         = [[1996 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]]
 | overall      = 5–6
 | conference   = 3–5
 | confstanding = 4th <small>(New England)</small>
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name         = [[UConn Huskies football|Connecticut Huskies]]
 | conf         = [[Atlantic 10 Conference]]
 | startyear    = 1997
 | endyear      = 1998
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season|1997]]
 | name         = [[1997 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]]
 | overall      = 7–4
 | conference   = 4–4
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(New England)</small>
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season|1998]]
 | name         = [[1998 Connecticut Huskies football team|Connecticut]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–1st <small>(New England)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 9
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name         = Connecticut
 | overall      = 34–23
 | confrecord   = 22–18
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name         = [[East Carolina Pirates football|East Carolina Pirates]]
 | conf         = [[Conference USA]]
 | startyear    = 2005
 | endyear      = 2009
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
 | name         = [[2005 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]]
 | overall      = 5–6
 | conference   = 4–4
 | confstanding = 4th <small>(East)</small>
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
 | name         = [[2006 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]]
 | overall      = 7–6
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(East)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2006 PapaJohns.com Bowl|PapaJohns.com]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
 | name         = [[2007 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(East)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2007 Hawaii Bowl|Hawaii]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]]
 | name         = [[2008 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]]
 | overall      = 9–5
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 1st <small> (East) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2009 Liberty Bowl|Liberty]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]]
 | name         = [[2009 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]]
 | overall      = 9–5
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2010 Liberty Bowl (January)|Liberty]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name         = East Carolina
 | overall      = 38–27
 | confrecord   = 28–12
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name         = [[South Florida Bulls football|South Florida Bulls]]
 | conf         = [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]]
 | startyear    = 2010
 | endyear      = 2012
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2010]]
 | name         = [[2010 South Florida Bulls football team|South Florida]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 3–4
 | confstanding = T–5th
 | bowlname     = [[2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl|Meineke Car Care]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2011]]
 | name         = [[2011 South Florida Bulls football team|South Florida]]
 | overall      = 5–7
 | conference   = 1–6
 | confstanding = T–7th
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012]]
 | name         = [[2012 South Florida Bulls football team|South Florida]]
 | overall      = 3–9
 | conference   = 1–6
 | confstanding = 8th
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name         = South Florida
 | overall      = 16–21
 | confrecord   = 5–16
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name         = [[Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football|Louisiana Tech Bulldogs]]
 | conf         = [[Conference USA]]
 | startyear    = 2013
 | endyear      = 2021
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2013]]
 | name         = [[2013 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 4–8
 | conference   = 3–5
 | confstanding = 5th <small>(West)</small>
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]]
 | name         = [[2014 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 9–5
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = 1st <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl (December)|Heart of Dallas]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2015]]
 | name         = [[2015 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 9–4
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 2nd <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2015 New Orleans Bowl|New Orleans]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2016]]
 | name         = [[2016 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 9–5 
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 1st <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2016 Armed Forces Bowl|Armed Forces]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2017]]
 | name         = [[2017 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 7–6 
 | conference   = 4–4 
 | confstanding = 4th <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2017 Frisco Bowl|Frisco]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2018]]
 | name         = [[2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2018 Hawaii Bowl|Hawaii]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | year         = [[2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2019]]
 | name         = [[2019 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–1st <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2019 Independence Bowl|Independence]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2020]]
 | name         = [[2020 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 5–5
 | conference   = 4–2
 | confstanding = 3rd <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = [[2020 New Orleans Bowl|New Orleans]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2021]]
 | name         = [[2021 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team|Louisiana Tech]]
 | overall      = 3–9
 | conference   = 2–6
 | confstanding = T–6th <small> (West) </small>
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  =
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name         = Louisiana Tech
 | overall      = 64–50
 | confrecord   = 43–27
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 152–121
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = 
 | polltype = Rankings from final Sports Network Poll
}}

===USFL/UFL===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" |League
! rowspan="2" |Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="4"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
! rowspan="2" |[[United States Football League (2022–2023)|USFL]]
![[2022 Birmingham Stallions season|BHAM]]||[[2022 USFL season|2022]]
|| 9 || 1 || {{winpct|9|1|0}} || '''1st in South Division''' || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0|0}} || <small>'''[[2022 USFL Championship Game|USFL]] Champions''' </small>
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[2023 Birmingham Stallions season|BHAM]]||[[2023 USFL season|2023]]
|| 8 || 2 || {{winpct|8|2}}|| '''1st in South Division''' || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|1|0|0}} || <small>'''[[2023 USFL Championship Game|USFL]] Champions''' </small>
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
! rowspan="2" |[[United Football League (2024)|UFL]]
![[2024 Birmingham Stallions season|BHAM]]||[[2024 UFL season|2024]]
|| 9 || 1 || {{winpct|9|1}}|| '''1st in USFL Conference''' || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0}} || <small>'''[[2024 UFL Championship Game|UFL]] Champions''' </small>
|-
![[2025 Birmingham Stallions season|BHAM]]||[[2025 UFL season|2025]]
|| 7 || 3 || {{winpct|7|3}}|| '''1st in USFL Conference'''  || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} || <small>'''Lost to [[2025 Michigan Panthers season|Michigan Panthers]] in USFL Conference Championship Game''' </small>
|-
! colspan="3" |Total|| 33 || 7 || {{winpct|33|7}} || || 6 || 1 || {{winpct|6|1}} ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ecupirates.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/skip-holtz/625 East Carolina profile]
* [https://gousfbulls.com/staff.aspx?staff=397 South Florida profile]
* [https://latechsports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/skip-holtz/248 Louisiana Tech profile]
* [https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/skip-holtz/3323 Northwestern profile]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holtz, Skip}}
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