Louisiana Tech and Head Coach Skip Holtz Agree to 5-year Contract Extension

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Twitter: @charlie_cds3

In the world of college football there are many factors that can draw a head coach from a current job to start a new adventure at different school, and sometimes it takes many years for coaches to find a school where they can lead long-term. However, that will not be the case at Louisiana Tech as head football coach Skip Holtz and the university have agreed in principle to a five-year, $3.5 million, contract extension according to Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland.

Coach Holtz, son of legendary coach Lou Holtz, began his coaching career in 1987 as a graduate assistant at Florida State after graduating from Notre Dame in 1986. After the 1988 season, Holtz left the Irish and became the wide receivers coach at Colorado State in 1989. From 1990-93, Holtz was part of the coaching staff of his alma mater as he coached the wide receivers for the first two season and was offensive coordinator in his last two. In 1994, Holtz received his first head coaching job at the University of Connecticut where he spent four seasons at the helm.

In 1999, Holtz became an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at South Carolina where he stayed until 2004. His second head coaching job came in 2005 at East Carolina where he spent five seasons and compiled a record of 38-27. In 2010, Holtz started his three year tenure as head coach at South Florida where he finished 16-21. Then in 2013, Holtz came to Ruston to coach the Bulldogs. In his first two seasons in charge, Louisiana Tech finished just 13-13 but did win the Heart of Dallas Bowl at the end of the 2014 season over Illinois, 35-18. Then in 2015 Louisiana Tech took a jump forward as the Bulldogs finished 8-4 and won the New Orleans Bowl over Arkansas State.

Last season, Coach Holtz earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors as he led the Bulldogs to a Conference USA West Division Title and then an appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. The bowl game was very dramatic as Louisiana Tech came away with a 45-42 victory over No. 25 Navy on a field goal as time expired for their first victory over a top 25 team since 2005.

After the announcement, McClelland said, “The level of excitement for Louisiana Tech football is at an all-time high. Getting a new contract done was critical to maintaining this momentum as we strive to reach even newer heights on the field. Skip Holtz is at the center of this movement. He and his staff have done such a tremendous job over the past four years, and we look forward to what the future holds.”

Coach Holtz also commented on his new extension in a statement, “I am excited to get the deal done and know that I will be part of the Louisiana Tech family and this program moving forward. I think this agreement displays the university’s commitment to us and is a stamp of approval for the way we are building this academically, athletically, and socially. The Ruston community and the Louisiana Tech fan base have been tremendous in their support of my family, our staff and this program.”

The new extension is still pending the approval from the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors but the future is bright for the Louisiana Tech football program under Coach Holtz.

Photo credit: The News Star; Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz