Holt ‘soap opera’ takes turn as former Idaho coach accepts defensive coordinator job at USC

Former University of Idaho head football coach Nick Holt has another new job.

Holt, who agreed late last week to become the St. Louis Rams’ defensive line coach for long-time friend Scott Linehan, changed direction Tuesday. Holt confirmed that he’ll become the new defensive coordinator at USC, where he worked as linebackers coach under Pete Carroll from 2001-03.

“I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack,” Holt said Tuesday night.

The palpitations actually started weeks ago. Holt initially turned down Linehan to remain at Idaho. On Wednesday, the Vandals announced a recruiting class of 20 players. Within days, Linehan was back with an enhanced offer that Holt said he couldn’t refuse.

On Tuesday, he refused.

“It’s like being on a soap opera,” Holt’s wife, Julie, said.

Here’s a timeline of events:

Roughly two hours away from a Monday press conference where he was to announce his departure from Idaho for St. Louis, Holt’s phone rang with the familiar number of Carroll, who has always served as his own defensive coordinator. Carroll offered the position to Holt.

Holt went through with the press conference but didn’t take questions from the media.

After a day of huddling with his family, Holt accepted Carroll’s offer. He’s expected to make $1.425 million over three years.

Holt wouldn’t disclose his salary in St. Louis, but said it was in the neighborhood of $320,000.

“I thought I was through with everything,” he said. “I felt good about my decision (to go to the Rams) after wrestling with that for a while. Then you get another call and it just blows you away and sends you for another loop. Like I’ve said before, this is an opportunity you can’t refuse, starting with the head coach at Idaho, and then having the chance to be with Scott and all of sudden this transpires.

Holt called Linehan on Tuesday.

“I was honest with Idaho and I was honest with Scott,” Holt said. “Obviously, he’s disappointed and probably not real happy – I wouldn’t be either if I was Scott. But he’ll understand and he’s a smart guy, and you just kind of work through it as friends.”

Holt said finances played a part in his decision, but he added that USC is a special place, enough to outweigh an opportunity to coach in the NFL.

“The power of USC is unbelievable,” he said. “You don’t know it until you live and work there. You say that to people and they think it’s coach-speak, but it’s unbelievable.”