Holt Leaves UI, Joins Smith At Louisville
The University of Idaho’s ever changing athletic department lost a mainstay when assistant football coach Nick Holt announced Thursday he has accepted a position at Louisville.
Holt, Idaho’s defensive coordinator, will coach Louisville’s defensive line for John L. Smith, his former boss at Idaho.
Holt’s departure might create a vacancy in Idaho’s women’s basketball program. His wife, Julie, is in her fourth year as head coach. She will announce her decision at the end of this season, but it is expected she will join Nick in Kentucky.
“I think she’s excited for me and she’s very supportive,” Holt said. “I can’t speculate on a lot of that other stuff.” The Holts have two young sons.
“It’s hard,” Julie said. “We’re in the middle of our season and we’re going to be good. My focus now is with our team and I’m not going to make a decision in the middle of our season.”
Nick Holt has been at Idaho almost nine years, an eternity by Vandals standards. The men’s basketball coaching job has changed hands five times since Holt’s arrival. There have been coaching changes in women’s basketball, when Holt’s wife was hired in 1994, volleyball and women’s track and cross country. Holt has worked for three athletic directors and two head football coaches.
Under Holt, the Vandals were No. 1 against the run in Division I-AA in 1994 and regularly fielded quality defenses.
“I’m going to miss the kids, the boosters and the associations I’ve made,” said Holt, who will fly to Kentucky this weekend. “You’re not going to find better people, from the secretaries and support staff on up. And then you get to coach the kids. A lot of coaches say that and it sounds like a bunch of bull, but this is a special, special place.”
Louisville, coming off a 1-10 season that prompted hiring Smith from Utah State on Nov. 24, has potential to become special, Holt said.
“From what I’ve been told, they have a lot of booster support and they have high expectations. There are some new facilities (including a football stadium) and in my profession you’ve got to take a look at that,” said Holt, an accomplished recruiter and an intense coach.
“The guys I’ve talked to (from Smith’s staff) said it’s why you work so hard to get to places like this… . I’ve had some goals in this profession and I think this is the time to make a move. I hope down the road to have the opportunity to be a head coach.”
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