Louisiana Tech has fired coach Skip Holtz after 9 seasons, This method introduced on Friday. Holtz will coach the season finale in the direction of Rice on Saturday. He was 64-49 with the Bulldogs and led This method to seven consecutive bowl video games earlier than struggling a down season in 2021.
“Skip And that i talked and agreed it was time for a change For every events,” Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wooden said. “Louisiana Tech owes Skip a debt of gratitude for his loyalty and dedication to our soccer scholar-athletes, our College, and our group over the previous decade. He has been In a place To carry out some issues that weren’t earlier thanhand carried out right here on a fixed basis Earlier to his arrival. We proceed to be dedicated to worthwhile convention championships, and that anticipateation is stronger than ever.”
Simply two years in the past, Holtz led This method to its first ever FBS 10-win season as Louisiana Tech Chop up a share of the Conference USA West Division with UAB. However, the Bulldogs have bottomed out in 2021 with a 3-8 doc pfinishing The outcomes in the direction of Rice, giving Holtz his first dropping season since his Louisiana Tech debut in 2013. The doc included three losses in the direction of Mississippi State, SMU and NC State by a mixed 10 factors.
Louisiana Tech regressed in convention play after the tight nonconvention carry outances. The Bulldogs handed Southern Miss its solely FBS win of the season in a 35-19 loss to the Golden Eagles Regardless of The very Incontrovertible actuality that USM has performed Greater than 10 gamers at quarteragain.
“That is the biggest time for me To guage A mannequin new start in my profession,” Holtz said. “I’ve had the privilege of malestoring youthful people and constructing soccer packages for Greater than 30 years, collectively with the final 9 as head coach of Louisiana Tech. The previous two seasons have launched further challenges to our program, And that i merely assume It is time For An further particular person to have The prospect To steer this particular group of youthful males.”
Louisiana Tech performs Rice at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Houston. Both teams enter at 3-9.
In-state satisfaction
Outdoors of LSU, Louisiana Tech has been the premier athletic departmalest in Louisiana, traditionally. However in 2021, the Bulldogs will shockingly finish with the worst doc amongst Louisiana schools. ULM is already sitting with 4 wins despite hiring a seemingly underwhelming Terry Bowden Should be a frustration. Billy Napier, in the meantime, has led Louisiana To three straight 10-win seasons.
Holtz’s firing compares favorably to that of prior Louisiana coach Mark Hudspeth. He led the Ragin’ Cajuns to 4 consecutive 9-win seasons earlier than being fired in 2017 after a 5-7 advertising campaign. Napier acquired here in and led Louisiana to historic success. For that set off, anticipate Louisiana Tech to guess on an up-and-comer to get This method’s identify again into the nationwide dialog.
Altering panorama
The information comes months after a quantity of of Conference USA’s prime packages introduced They might go away for the American Athletic Conference and the Photo voltaic Belt, leaving Louisiana Tech, UTEP, FIU, Center Tennessee and Western Kentucky As a Outcome of the one reprimarying members. Conference USA has since added Liberty, New Mexico State and FCS transitioning members Jacksonville State and Sam Houston.
The Bulldogs have prolonged been Definitely one of many proudest athletic departmalests Inside the nation and gained three nationwide championships On the Division II diploma. With years till realignmalest is absolutely settled, Louisiana Tech was unwilling to roll the cube on Holtz getting his mojo again, particularly after primary packages ignored him after a interval of unparalleled FBS success On This method.