Louisiana Tech has fired coach Skip Holtz after nine seasons, the program announced on Friday. Holtz will coach the season finale against Rice on Saturday. He was 64-49 with the Bulldogs and led the program to seven consecutive bowl games before this down season.
“Skip and I talked and agreed it was time for a change for both parties,” Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wood said. “Louisiana Tech owes Skip a debt of gratitude for his loyalty and dedication to our football student-athletes, our University, and our community over the past decade. He has been able to accomplish some things that weren’t previously done here on a consistent basis prior to his arrival. We continue to be committed to winning conference championships, and that expectation is stronger than ever.”
Just two years ago, Holtz led the program to its first ever 10-win season as Louisiana Tech split a share of the Conference USA West Division with UAB. However, the Bulldogs bottomed out in 2021 with a 3-8 record pending the results against Rice, Holtz’s first losing season since his La. Tech debut in 2013. The record included three losses against Mississippi State, SMU and NC State by a combined 10 points.
Louisiana Tech regressed in conference play after the tight nonconference performances. The Bulldogs handed Southern Miss its only FBS win of the season in a 35-19 loss to the Golden Eagles despite the fact that USM has played more than 10 players at quarterback.
“This is the right time for me to evaluate a new start in my career,” Holtz said. “I’ve had the privilege of mentoring young people and building football programs for more than 30 years, including the last nine as head coach of Louisiana Tech. The past two seasons have brought additional challenges to our program, and I simply think it is time for someone else to have the chance to lead this special group of young men.”
The news comes months after several of Conference USA’s top programs announced they would leave for the American Athletic Conference and the Sun Belt, leaving Louisiana Tech, UTEP, FIU, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky as the only remaining members. Conference USA has since added Liberty, New Mexico State and FCS transitioning members Jacksonville State and Sam Houston.
Louisiana Tech plays Rice at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Houston. Both teams enter at 3-9.
