I guess this is as official as it will get until tomorrow...

 

"East Carolina coach Skip Holtz will be announced as USF's new head football coach on Friday after accepting the Bulls' offer on Thursday morning.

 

Holtz has called a 1 p.m. meeting of his ECU staff and will address his team at 3 p.m. before heading to Tampa. His hiring ends a busy week for USF athletic director Doug Woolard following Friday's firing of coach Jim Leavitt after 14 years as head coach.

 

Holtz, 45, who has led ECU to back to back Conference USA championships, has been the primary focus of USF's search since he indicated an interest in the job on Sunday. He will be in place in time for both of USF's big recruiting weekends, with 10 recruits on campus this weekend for official visits."

 

 

 

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2010/01/skip-holtz-calls-meeting-expected-to-take-usf-job.html

I guess this is as official as it will get until tomorrow...

 

 

 

 

 

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2010/01/skip-holtz-calls-meeting-expected-to-take-usf-job.html

 

Thanks for the update. :thumb:

Skip's in Tampa. Throws up some horns for the cameras.

 

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2010/01/first-photo-usf-coach-skip-holtz-lands-in-tampa.html

How do you like the hire Rat?

How do you like the hire Rat?

I've been really busy today, so I've not had time to analyze everything, but at first blush, it looks like a good hire. I have to wait and see, though. If he can keep the signing class in close to intact, then he's the man.

 

Skips definitely going to get along better with the media. However, contrary to Brian Bennett's blog, he won't do better with the fans than Leavitt did. I can attest to that personally. CJL always showed up to events and stayed late to sign autographs and talk USF football. You couldn't talk with him 5 minutes without wanting to suit up, yourself. He was very passionate about the program. That's why so many still support him. That's what got him fired, too.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/id/7165/holtz-a-wise-choice-for-south-florida

Saw his arrival on the 11 o'clock news last night. Boy, Holtz is really excited to be here. That smile in the picture I posted earlier, stayed on his face the entire interview. Great looking family, too. He met with the team for the first time last night.

 

They will introduce him officially at a press conference, noon today.

His contract is for 5 years at $7.1 million.

 

Contract Details

I think Skip will do a good job. What helps him he can recruit and USF name will make it easy for him as well.

Here is the entire introduction press conference as shot by somebody at tampabay.com. Not one of the TV stations. Large crowd on hand in front of the new Marshall Student Center on the USF campus.

 

I think I like this guy. He's respectful of what Leavitt leaves him and he ain't hiding from the pressure.

 

"We can win conference championships here. We can win national championships here."

 

When he says he's looking forward to this fall, somebody yells out "Beat Flordia" (Sept. 11 at the Swamp) and the crowd goes wild. He responded, "That's why I'm here." Which results in another roar.

 

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2010/01/watch-skip-holtzs-introductory-news-conference.html

 

BTW - The girls up front are not the cheerleaders. They are the Sun Dolls. I love the Sun Dolls. All of them. Really. All of them. They are what I watch during the second half of all Louisville games in Ray Jay. :thumb:

I like Skip Holtz. I think he'll be a good fit.

I hate to hear this due to having a friend on the coaching staff there. I'm not sure how good of athletes his two boys are, but maybe he can find a job in the area and bring them back home to Corbin.

Good news. Right now, it looks like Skip is going to keep Steve Bird.

 

At this point, Holtz has decided not to retain Offensive Coordinator Mike Canales, Defense Coordinator Joe Tresey, Offensive Line Coach Mike Simmonds, Linebacker Coach David Blackwell, and Special Teams Coach John Hendrick.

 

Looks like ECU OC Todd Fitch will stay with Skip (has been with him for the last 12 years) and come to USF. Former UK Assistant Rick Smith could replace Tresey at DC, and Vernon Hargreaves could be coming back to Florida as Defensive Line/Ends coach (formerly at Miami).