La. Tech tapping Skip Holtz as new coach

[December 15, 2012]  RUSTON, La. (AP) -- Skip Holtz wasn't without a head coaching job for long.

He was introduced as Louisiana Tech's new coach Friday, less than two weeks after he was fired by South Florida .

Holtz replaces Sonny Dykes, who left to accept the head coaching job at California last week. Louisiana Tech went 9-3 under Dykes this season, with a potent offense that averaged 51 points and 578 yards per game, but was surprisingly left without a bowl bid after balking at an early invitation to the Independence Bowl.

"I am tremendously excited for the opportunity to build on what coach Dykes started and to lead this great team forward," Holtz said. "This is a football program with outstanding student athletes, a history of winning and optimism in the future."

The 48-year-old Holtz is the son of Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz, who is known most for his long and successful stint at Notre Dame.

The younger Holtz is coming off a 3-9 2012 campaign at South Florida, where he was 16-21 in three seasons.

Holtz is 88-71 overall in 13 seasons at Connecticut, East Carolina and USF. During Holtz's stint at East Carolina, the Pirates won back-to-back Conference USA titles in 2008 and 2009.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to have a coach of the caliber and experience of Skip Holtz leading our football program into the future," Louisiana Tech President Dan Reneau said. "The success he has had throughout his career as a head coach is solid and will offer a unique opportunity for our student-athletes to learn from one of the best."

[Associated Press]

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