By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — In the midst of one of the busiest recruiting weeks of the season, East Carolina head football coach Skip Holtz took time out of his schedule Monday to refute a report that he was a leading candidate for the Boston College head coaching position.
"The continuing speculation and various media reports regarding my candidacy for positions other than the one I currently have and enjoy at East Carolina, are inaccurate,” Holtz said in a statement released by the university. “Because of the sensitivity involved, I have asked Coach Holland if I could personally share my thoughts and commitment directly with the Pirate Nation regarding the speculation on my position at East Carolina. It is my hope and understanding that this will offer closure to this situation.”
The Boston Globe reported Sunday that Holtz was scheduled to meet with Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo over the weekend.
The Eagles are searching for a replacement for Jeff Jagodzinski, who was fired earlier this month after meeting with officials from the New York Jets about their vacant coaching position, despite direct orders from DeFilippo not to.
ECU athletic director Terry Holland said Sunday that Holtz had not asked for, or been given permission to speak with another institution about a head coaching job.
This is the second time that Holtz has had to come out and deny having interest in departing East Carolina. In the days following the Pirates’ Conference Championship victory over Tulsa on Dec. 6, Holtz was rumored to be headed to Syracuse. Days later, the fourth-year Pirates coach, who has compiled a 29-22 record while at ECU, stated that he was happy at East Carolina, and looking forward to his future with the Pirates.
He reiterated that thought Monday.
While some aspects of this added visibility might be considered flattering, my primary focus remains solely on continuing to build our program,” Holtz added. “In the short term, that centers around recruiting."