Skip Holtz: Mutual interest between ECU coach, South Florida

As far as I'm concerned, Skip Holtz better get the job and take it because I am done with the guy. South Florida is a better job than ECU, Skip? Really? Thanks for a whole lot of nothing. Back to the drawing board. Maybe we can hire real coach this time, someone who can make something from nothing and stay for 14 years. I hear Jim Leavitt is looking for work.

ORLANDO -- East Carolina coach Skip Holtz said Tuesday there is mutual interest between himself and South Florida to fill the vacancy created recently when Jim Leavitt was fired.

Holtz was contacted Saturday night by the school, he said, after Leavitt was fired on Friday. Leavitt was accused of grabbing a player by the throat and slapping him twice. A school investigation contended that not only was the accusation true but also that Leavitt had impeded the investigation.

Leavitt held a news conference Monday denying any wrongdoing. During Leavitt's 14 seasons, the program grew from nothing to a Top 25 program on the cusp of winning a Big East title.

The school seems to be moving along quickly with its search. Michigan assistant Calvin Magee interviewed on Monday. Holtz quickly became a hot name for the job on Tuesday at the American Football Coaches Association national convention.

"There's a lot of positives to it," Holtz said. "It's definitely an up and coming program ... I really don't know what's going to happen. I got a call [from South Florida asking], ‘Would I have interest?' That's been the contact. My phone has blown up all morning."

Holtz' name has been linked to several openings in the past two seasons. The son of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz started the 2008 season 3-0 after beating West Virginia. The Pirates have won back-to-back Conference USA titles. In his fifth year with the program since leaving Connecticut, Holtz is 38-27 and 76-49 overall.

"Obviously there is some attraction," said Holtz whose wife, Jennifer, is from Florida. "I don't know what they're thinking or where they're going to go. The rumors that I've taken it, at this point, are not true."