December 7, 2008

Skip Holtz to Syracuse

After interviewing several top assistants and hot head coaches, the NFL Network (of all places) is reporting that Syracuse will introduce ECU head coach Skip Holtz as the next head coach of the Orange.

The News & Observer has attempted to confirm the report, but could not reach Holtz, ECU athletics director Terry Holland or Syracuse AD Daryl Gross as of noon Sunday.

According to the reports, Holtz will be introduced at a press conference on Monday, and will then attend the College Football Hall of Fame dinner in New York city that evening.

Holtz is 29-21 in three years at East Carolina, where he inherited a team that had three wins in the preceding two seasons.

As far as hires go, this is really about the best that Syracuse could have done. Holtz is a fiery competitor who brought the Pirates to the top of C-USA, knocking off several BCS opponents in getting there. If he can recruit within New York, then he should be able to bring Syracuse back to the top of the Big East in short order.

The News & Observer is reporting that Virginia Tech DC Bud Foster is at the top of the Pirates list if the Holtz reports are indeed correct.

Update 12/7/08 6:30pm

Holtz confirmed his interest in Syracuse and would not deny that he may be the next coach, but told ESPN that no deal is in place.

Holtz said Sunday he has had no formal meetings with Syracuse and called an NFL Network report that he was to be introduced as the new coach Monday "inaccurate." Holtz, however, didn't rule out replacing the fired Greg Robinson.

"I would like to have the opportunity to talk to [Syracuse AD] Daryl Gross," Holtz said. "But at this point, no, I'm not going through an interview process. I've made that very clear."

As far as denials go, this one sounds kinda fishy to me. Perhaps NFL Network (again WTF?) jumped the gun on the story, but it certainly seems like there is mutual interest, at the very least.

Comments:

Skip Holtz to Syracuse
After interviewing several top assistants and hot head coaches, the NFL Network (of all places) is reporting that Syracuse will introduce ECU head coach Skip Holtz as the next head coach of the Orange. The News & Observer has attempted to confirm the report, but could not reach Holtz, ECU athletics director Terry Holland or Syracuse AD Daryl Gross as of noon Sunday. According to the reports, Holtz will be introduced at a press conference on Monday, and will then attend the College Football Hall of Fame dinner in New York city that evening. Holtz is 29-21 in three years at East Carolina, where he inherited a team that had three wins in the preceding two seasons. As far as hires go, this is really about the best that Syracuse could have done. Holtz is a fiery competitor who brought the Pirates to the top of C-USA, knocking off several BCS opponents in getting there. If he can recruit within New York, then he should be able to bring Syracuse back to the top of the Big East in short order. The News & Observer is reporting that Virginia Tech DC Bud Foster is at the top of the Pirates list if the Holtz reports are indeed correct.
Update 12/7/08 6:30pm
Holtz confirmed his interest in Syracuse and would not deny that he may be the next coach, but told ESPN that no deal is in place.
Holtz said Sunday he has had no formal meetings with Syracuse and called an NFL Network report that he was to be introduced as the new coach Monday "inaccurate." Holtz, however, didn't rule out replacing the fired Greg Robinson. "I would like to have the opportunity to talk to [Syracuse AD] Daryl Gross," Holtz said. "But at this point, no, I'm not going through an interview process. I've made that very clear."
As far as denials go, this one sounds kinda fishy to me. Perhaps NFL Network (again WTF?) jumped the gun on the story, but it certainly seems like there is mutual interest, at the very least.