I've seen some USF fans argue that the administration tied his hands in recruiting by only wanting no risk kids or something like that.

(12-26-2014 10:27 AM)jaredf29 Wrote:  Really makes you wonder why he flopped so hard at usf.

Lost about half his staff, DC (went to FSU before Skip left), D line coach, stayed, but wasn't coaching at that point due cancer (lost his fight with cancer. Co-OC/O line coach didn't go with him. He lost most his key coaches outside of Rick Smith that were the main recruiters and the ones who built his defence at ECU. After his first year we released his SC Coach to bring back Connors from UNC, and his guy Golden isn't a good SC Coach for football, Olympics yes, pure power lifting yeah, but not football. Plus, we got lucky on several recruits on D side when Skip was here, CJ Wilson, Linval Joseph, and Scotty Robinson.

(12-26-2014 12:57 PM)NavyKnight Wrote:  I've seen some USF fans argue that the administration tied his hands in recruiting by only wanting no risk kids or something like that.

That's not entirely true. If a kid is risky then he had to pass the academic committee but that wasn't the reason he failed to recruit

I think that Skip's success in Greenville had more to do with our "football culture" and the school itself. He did not do a good job of building depth and he was not good at getting recruits into the school (our last three classes had tons of players who never made it in). I also had issues with his disciplinary procedures.

I disagree with a poster above: I would not take him back in a heartbeat; I like Ruff and would rather have him at the helm. I have no doubt that he'll leave us in better shape than Skip did.

I get the feeling that Skip Holtz is a good "figurehead" coach, and is successful when he has the right people underneath him.

He had the right folks under him in Greenville, but not in Tampa.

He also has Manny Diaz on his staff.

(12-26-2014 01:21 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  I think that Skip's success in Greenville had more to do with our "football culture" and the school itself. He did not do a good job of building depth and he was not good at getting recruits into the school (our last three classes had tons of players who never made it in). I also had issues with his disciplinary procedures.

I disagree with a poster above: I would not take him back in a heartbeat; I like Ruff and would rather have him at the helm. I have no doubt that he'll leave us in better shape than Skip did.

No I think Ruffin is a good long term coach for you guys. I'd prefer to see Skip Holtz return to UConn

(12-26-2014 11:21 AM)mtmedlin Wrote:  He totally destroyed recruiting, didnt keep a handle on the team and allowed his "star" players to get away with crap they never should have and he didnt make the right hires in several key positions. He kept guys that were OK at the lower levels but they werent the right fit in the Big East... and from many reports, he got lazy. He spent quite a bit of time on the golf course during the recruiting season. He missed out on several high profile players who were interested in USF and pissed off a few local coaches and power brokers in the tampa bay area.

I am more then happy he got canned and I personally think that LA Techs success has more to do with the level of competition and his assistants. I tend to think it doesnt last long but he doesnt care since hes getting a paycheck for the next 3 years no matter what.

That's right it's all about the paycheck, I don't feel bad for these coaches that that get fired because they make a lot of money.

(12-26-2014 01:21 PM)Chappy Wrote:  I get the feeling that Skip Holtz is a good "figurehead" coach, and is successful when he has the right people underneath him.

He had the right folks under him in Greenville, but not in Tampa.

Bingo. Hes a CUSA level coach. When he has really good coaches and talent going against him, he caves. He has the most predictable offense and never had our kids prepared. Maybe he had more drive at ECU and kind of last it when he got here, thinking he had "made it". Getting canned might have been a wake up call but I honestly just dont think he has what it takes to coach at the upper level.

At Uconn, he was division II. When he was at ECU, CUSA was ranked as the 8th best conference... and now, they are still about 8th. Hes never proven he can win at an upper level.

When he was at UConn you know he was told that they going to move up to FBS and he didn't care. I'm glad he's doing well but he's a spoiled child. He seems to be the lazy type but I'm glad he's getting his act together at Tech

Apparently he thought UConn being located where it is couldn't be successful at the FBS level. Randy Edsall prove that to be dead wrong Yukon can be very successful at the FBS level.😎 all we need is a good coach.
Sadly I don't believe we have that yet and I think we're going to struggle till Diaco is gone.

Its too bad that Schiano wasnt available when Uconn hired Diaco. Say what you will about that guy, but he can take a school that wasnt historically very good, in the northeast and turned it into a solid program.

(12-26-2014 02:58 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  Its too bad that Schiano wasnt available when Uconn hired Diaco. Say what you will about that guy, but he can take a school that wasnt historically very good, in the northeast and turned it into a solid program.

I agree I looked up the Diaco and the coaching staff and they all have outstanding credentials. They didn't have a quarterback i think if they had a quarterback they would have played a lot better Yukon

His wife will push him to leave La Tech for what she thinks is better.

(12-26-2014 05:34 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  His wife will push him to leave La Tech for what she thinks is better.

What's the story behind this?

(12-26-2014 03:50 PM)Stookey57 Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 02:58 PM)mtmedlin Wrote:  Its too bad that Schiano wasnt available when Uconn hired Diaco. Say what you will about that guy, but he can take a school that wasnt historically very good, in the northeast and turned it into a solid program.

I agree I looked up the Diaco and the coaching staff and they all have outstanding credentials. They didn't have a quarterback i think if they had a quarterback they would have played a lot better Yukon

To be fair, when Fuente was hired at Memphis his staff was young and most came from Illinois State and Murray State. Our DC was a secondary coach at Mizzou.

(12-26-2014 10:33 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  USF evidently was just not a good fit for Skip. I thought he would do well there..but..it just did not work out. He seems to be very good at rebuilding programs if given time to install his schemes and get the players on board. USF was not willing to wait that out. I'd take him back at ECU in a heartbeat. Unlike some ECU fans...I fully understood him taking the USF job and did not hold it against him. Im glad to see him do well at La Tech. I had a feeling he would do well there.

Why would you take him back in a heartbeat? So every year you could hear about the next job offer he was entertaining and worry about where he's gonna end up? Cringe every time a coach gets fired just knowing they are gonna try and take yours? We have a very good coach the can recruit well and wants to be here for the long haul. Why in the hell would you would that hypocrite back? I don't understand why some have a love affair with the guy. Yes he did some good things when he was here but it was mainly the staff he had in place. Great D-coordinator in Greg Hudson which really made him look good. He could not recruit worth a crap and never has been able to. Sorry for the Rant I'm just so over hearing about people that would welcome him back. Screw that!

(12-26-2014 06:30 PM)NavyKnight Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 05:34 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  His wife will push him to leave La Tech for what she thinks is better.

What's the story behind this?

Her family lived down there so people are convinced she made him take the job.

(12-26-2014 07:25 PM)Mikeyp Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 10:33 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  USF evidently was just not a good fit for Skip. I thought he would do well there..but..it just did not work out. He seems to be very good at rebuilding programs if given time to install his schemes and get the players on board. USF was not willing to wait that out. I'd take him back at ECU in a heartbeat. Unlike some ECU fans...I fully understood him taking the USF job and did not hold it against him. Im glad to see him do well at La Tech. I had a feeling he would do well there.

Why would you take him back in a heartbeat? So every year you could hear about the next job offer he was entertaining and worry about where he's gonna end up? Cringe every time a coach gets fired just knowing they are gonna try and take yours? We have a very good coach the can recruit well and wants to be here for the long haul. Why in the hell would you would that hypocrite back? I don't understand why some have a love affair with the guy. Yes he did some good things when he was here but it was mainly the staff he had in place. Great D-coordinator in Greg Hudson which really made him look good. He could not recruit worth a crap and never has been able to. Sorry for the Rant I'm just so over hearing about people that would welcome him back. Screw that!

Greg Hudson, a great DC? He jumped ship as soon as if not sooner than skippy. Hudson looked good because of a NFL D-Lind, and Rick Smith.

(12-26-2014 07:41 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 07:25 PM)Mikeyp Wrote:  

(12-26-2014 10:33 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  USF evidently was just not a good fit for Skip. I thought he would do well there..but..it just did not work out. He seems to be very good at rebuilding programs if given time to install his schemes and get the players on board. USF was not willing to wait that out. I'd take him back at ECU in a heartbeat. Unlike some ECU fans...I fully understood him taking the USF job and did not hold it against him. Im glad to see him do well at La Tech. I had a feeling he would do well there.

Why would you take him back in a heartbeat? So every year you could hear about the next job offer he was entertaining and worry about where he's gonna end up? Cringe every time a coach gets fired just knowing they are gonna try and take yours? We have a very good coach the can recruit well and wants to be here for the long haul. Why in the hell would you would that hypocrite back? I don't understand why some have a love affair with the guy. Yes he did some good things when he was here but it was mainly the staff he had in place. Great D-coordinator in Greg Hudson which really made him look good. He could not recruit worth a crap and never has been able to. Sorry for the Rant I'm just so over hearing about people that would welcome him back. Screw that!

Greg Hudson, a great DC? He jumped ship as soon as if not sooner than skippy. Hudson looked good because of a NFL D-Lind, and Rick Smith.

They are Both great coaches and hell yea Greg Hudson left because he doubled his salary by going to FSU. Why would he of got a job at FSU if he wasn't good? If you don't think he was a great DC its because you are either

a) Crazy
b) totally infatuated with Skip Holtz
c) all of the above