Ruston, LA (Sports Network) - Louisiana Tech officially welcomed Skip Holtz as its new head football coach on Friday.
Holtz takes over the Bulldogs' program less than two weeks after being dismissed as the head coach at South Florida, where he put together a 16-21 record and one bowl victory over the last three seasons.
The 48-year-old does own an 88-71 overall mark over 13 seasons, however, having had previous successful stops at both Connecticut (1994-98) and East Carolina (2005-09). Holtz led UConn to a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals during his final year with the Huskies, while ECU went to four bowls and captured a pair of Conference USA titles during his five-year tenure there.
"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," said Louisiana Tech president Dr. Dan Reneau. "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."
Holtz, the son of legendary former collegiate coach Lou Holtz, replaces Sonny Dykes after the latter left for the University of California after guiding Louisiana Tech to a 9-3 record this past season.
"I am tremendously excited for the opportunity to build on what Coach Dykes started and to lead this great team forward," said Holtz. "This is a football program with outstanding student athletes, a history of winning and optimism in the future. I'm honored to be part of the Bulldogs family and I'm ready to get to work."
Dykes went 22-15 over three seasons at Louisiana Tech and directed the Bulldogs to a Western Athletic Conference title and a berth in the Poinsettia Bowl in 2011.
