TULSA, Okla. — Even as he celebrated his team’s first-ever Conference USA championship, East Carolina head football coach Skip Holtz was also deflecting rumors regarding his future.
After the Pirates’ 27-24 upset of Tulsa to claim the C-USA title and a berth in the Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl, Holtz said he did not have plans to leave the ECU program.
Rumors regarding Holtz and the coaching vacancy at Syracuse University have swirled for a couple of weeks. They even led ECU director of athletics Terry Holland to issue a statement last week saying that while Holtz had not spoken with any other universities to date, Holland would grant the coach permission to do so if Holtz asked.
But the fourth-year coach insisted he’s not trying to leave, saying only that he could “never say never” regarding the annual coaching vacancies to which he’s linked, which have also included Mississippi State and Auburn in recent days.
“It would have to be a really special situation to get me out of here,” Holtz said. “I am not looking to leave, I will make that promise to you. I don’t know what the future holds, but I certainly know who holds the future and I’m going to put my faith in him and keep working extremely hard and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Holtz called the rumors flattering, and more a reflection on what the ECU program is doing than Holtz as an individual.
Holland’s message regarding Holtz also confirmed both the coach and the AD would be in New York this weekend as Lou Holtz, Skip’s father, is inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. But Holland stressed Holtz had not been in contact with other programs, and that no attempts had been made yet by programs to contact Holtz.
“I am very happy at East Carolina, I enjoy East Carolina,” Holtz said. “We have a great group of young men that I have the opportunity to work with. I have three children, a wife, everything in Greenville. Right now, it’s a great place for our family and for myself professionally.”
Contact Nathan Summers at nsummers@coxnc.com or (252)329-9595.
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Your comments
UCFknight
12/09/2008 12:55:11 PM
Good for Skip man, glad to hear he's not jumping ship to "a big name school" just yet.
Suggest removalNow if he wanted to come to UCF and coach, that would be a-ok with me, at least he lets his players drink water at practice!
patty
12/08/2008 08:08:59 AM
We do not want the Holtz family to leave greenville, ecu and St. Peter's.
Suggest removalYour hard work and love for the community is wonderful. There is no other place like ECU with pirate football fans. they are all over and will share the same. what is that much money anyway?
Jimmy
12/07/2008 10:05:37 PM
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see Syracuse as a special situation. We currently pay 1.2 mil vs. Syracuse 600K. They are in the Big Least, but do you really see them making a run at a BCS bowl anytime soon? There's no recruiting because of Rutgers. They have a good QB, but he was benched this year. Not a good situation, must less special.
Suggest removalpirate '00
12/07/2008 05:44:38 PM
I hope Skip stays in Greenville but who can blame an individual for wanting to advance his career (BCS, $$$$). Reports say that Bud Foster, VT, would be a candidate of interest if Skip were to leave ECU.
Suggest removalStardust
12/07/2008 04:45:26 PM
Unfortunately, ECU provides another coach the opportunity to get some recognition and then, they are gone. If we were to learn from our past, ECU would get that same recognition and parlay that into membership in a better conference. It appears that our coaches are the only ones able to leverage higher performance.
Suggest removalBill
12/07/2008 04:39:47 PM
I would say that I hate to see him leave and hope he decides to stay...on the other hand remember Pat Dye from the 70's? He used ECU as a start for his career and then moved to Auburn where he made his name.
Suggest removalluton moore
12/07/2008 02:31:18 PM
The N & O website's saying that he's going to announce it Tomorrow.
Suggest removalErock
12/07/2008 09:12:50 AM
We love you Skip.
Suggest removalPlease stay.
Warren
12/07/2008 08:40:08 AM
WHATEVER!!! Sheesh these guys play these games constantly. He is leaving -- GONE!!! And I say GOOD RIDDANCE. I am sick and tired of coaches being put on pedestals, given riches and only looking out of the corner of their eye for the next thing. Daddy Lou has gotten him every job he ever had. BYE BYE SKIPPY!!! Now we can wallow in 2-3 years of misdirection AGAIN!!!
Suggest removalJim Hammond
12/07/2008 07:39:40 AM
No one could fault Coach Holtz if he moves on professionally - whom among us would not consider opportunities to do so? If we lose Skip and I as many will miss him greatly, but this we can say with all honesty - Coach Holtz would leave ECU a better place than when he arrived. Who could ask for more?
Suggest removalSari Goff
12/07/2008 07:26:37 AM
Don't go Skip!!
Suggest removalJeff
12/07/2008 01:43:05 AM
Thank You Coach Holtz!
Suggest removalI think I can speak for many ECU fans that we want you and your Coaching staff here for many years to come. Anyone that has had any contact with you and your family realize how special you are.
You are a blessed man and have been a blessing to many in Greenville. Beyond the wonderful things you have done with the football program the Drew/Skip campaign is incredible.
Please know how much we appreciate you!!
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