Just days after USC’s 38-24 victory against Penn State in the 2009 Rose Bowl, defensive coordinator Nick Holt decided to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff at the University of Washington as the defensive coordinator/assistant head coach, according to the school’s official athletic site.
Holt was named Washington’s defensive coordinator on Monday, after previously turning down the offer in December, when Sarkisian became the Huskies head coach.
He will officially be introduced at a press conference that is scheduled for Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
Holt, who spent six seasons at USC in two separate stints, has been in charge of the defense since 2006, and has made steady improvements each season.
In his first season as the defensive coordinator, the Trojans ranked 23rd nationally in total defense.
In 2007, USC’s defense was second nationally in total defense giving up 258.8 yards a game.
This season, the Trojans ranked first in the nation in total defense allowing just 206.1 yards a game, the lowest total in college football since Alabama’s 194.2 in 1992.
With the departure of Holt, secondary/assistant head coach Rocky Seto and linebacker coach Ken Norton Jr. appear to be the top candidates to take over as the defensive coordinator.
Stay tuned to SCPlaybook.com for more on this developing story.
Pete Carroll and Nick Holt celebrate a victory over Standford. (Getty Images/Jed Jacobsohn)
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can reach Kevin Carden at kevin@scplaybook.com