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Read Denny O'Brien's feature on Scott Cowen's confrontation with the Bowl Championship Series in Bonesville Magazine.

Pirate Notebook No. 220
Tuesday, December 14, 2004

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

Holtz making all the right moves

Bonesville Magazine
WHERE TO BUY...


• PAT DYE: Short on Tenure, Long on Impact

• INSIDE PIRATE FOOTBALL
• Recruit Profiles
• Rookie Books
• Tracking the Classes
• Florida Pipeline
• NCHSAA & ECU: Smooth Sailing Again

• HIGH HOPES FOR HOOPS

• STEVE BALLARD: New Leader Takes Charge

• SCOTT COWEN: Busting Down the Door

• KEITH LECLAIR on ECU's Field of Dreams

• BETH GRANT: Actress Still a Pirate
 

©2004 Bonesville.net

Five years from now, we'll know for certain if East Carolina's hiring of Skip Holtz was a sound decision. At that point, the Pirates' ultimate league affiliation and place in the college football pecking order should be known.

Until then, making a definitive judgment on his hiring is little more than a hunch. Holtz hasn't coached a game or even inked a recruiting class, let alone compiled a winning record filled with bowl appearances and Top 25 finishes.

That said, the Pirates coach is off to a pretty good start.

In what easily is the most important task at the beginning of any coach's tenure — hiring a staff — Holtz has more than delivered. Donnie Thompson and Steve Shankweiler are the kind of exceptionally-seasoned veterans that can help form a granite foundation on which to build a staff that is proficient in recruiting and player development.

And yet another prominent assistant coach may be in the wings. Several Minnesota media outlets have reported in recent days that Greg Hudson, who resigned last week as Minnesota's defensive coordinator, is in line to take over East Carolina's defense.

Even the younger members of Holtz's emerging staff bring compelling traits to their jobs.

Junior Smith combines seven years of coaching experience with the upsides of relative youth and demonstrated mastery of ECU's football and academic cultures, while Phil Petty comes aboard with an intimate understanding of the Holtz offensive philosophy from both an assistant's and player's perspective.

The mix of assistants so far seems to be in line with the mandate recently set forth by ECU athletics director Terry Holland.

"High profile, but more than that an experienced staff," Holland said with regards to staff needs. "And certainly a combination of experienced guys and young guys.

"There's got to be new blood coming into the program all the time. And I think again, he (Holtz) has that ability to attract the young coaches who are going to be successful in the future as well as guys who have already been successful."

The importance of a strong supporting cast can't be overstated. Assistants are responsible for most of the heavy lifting on the recruiting trail and on the practice field.

Regardless of the program or head coach, you won't go far without chemistry and continuity on staff, a reality borne out by some notable examples.

Florida State's descent can be directly traced to staff defections. The exodus of both Mark Richt and Chuck Amato correlates with the Seminoles' unseating from college football's throne.

Steve Spurrier also saw his grip on the Southeastern Conference somewhat slip when Bob Stoops, Carl Franks, and Ron Zook left Florida for other gigs. Without them, recruiting slowly eroded and the Gators were beaten for players regularly by in-state rivals.

Because Holtz can't rely on blue-chip talent, the situation is magnified at East Carolina.

"I don't think that's going to be our answer here, is pulling out the nation's Top 50 and chasing them all over the country," Holtz said after being hired. "I think what we have to do a good job of is evaluating talent, evaluating personality, evaluating character, evaluating students, to bring in people who are going to be here for the four-to-five-year long haul.

"Because if they come in here and they are here for the four-to-five-year long haul, they will have worked hard enough. They will develop into a player. Maybe they won't be a four-year starter for us, but they have a chance."

In Thompson, Holtz secured one of this state's most recognized recruiters. North Carolina high school coaches won't require an introduction and will no doubt embrace his presence in their halls.

While Mack Brown often was credited for his relentless work in recruiting, it was Thompson who harvested the state's most talented defensive linemen for the Tar Heels. Once on campus, he developed his charges into a dominant unit that was fundamentally sound and always prepared.

It's the latter at which the Pirates can't afford failure.

Chances are, East Carolina won't mine players of the caliber courted by Miami and Texas. But given the staff that already is in place, there should be better evaluations, personnel decisions, and gameday preparation than over the last two years.

And as a result, a few more wins.

Staff support

Continuity in the coaching staff played a large role in East Carolina's success under Steve Logan. Though a few assistants did seek other opportunities, the nucleus of his staff remained in place throughout much of his tenure.

Holland is committed to fending of potential predators who may prey on Pirates coaches in the future.

"We've told (Coach Holtz) that he has a budget, but that we're going to work with him," Holland said. "It will depend on the individuals that we're after.

"Hopefully in the future, we're not going to criticize our coaches for leaving. We're going to do whatever is necessary to keep them. That means creating an environment that not only includes compensation that's fair and reasonable, but it also means creating an environment where obviously they are loved and welcomed and have tremendous support. That's up to the Pirate Nation and all of us to create that environment."

Translated: If East Carolina donors want to ensure that Holtz is able to retain his top lieutenants, they had better ante up.

Send an e-mail message to Denny O'Brien.

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02/23/2007 01:57:26 AM

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