Holtz Rounds Out His Staff

Posted Jan 18, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jan 18, 2010 at 02:14 PM

TAMPA – USF football coach Skip Holtz hired five assistant coaches today to round out his inaugural coaching staff with the Bulls.

Holtz announced Monday afternoon that he has added former Marshall head coach Mark Snyder to his USF staff, along with three assistants who worked with him at East Carolina – Todd Fitch, Vernon Hargreaves and Rick Smith.

In addition, Holtz has hired veteran assistant Peter Vaas, former offensive coordinator at Notre Dame when Brady Quinn was there. Vaas was most recently offensive coordinator at Miami of Ohio.

Holtz has not announced official staff titles, although Snyder is expected to be named defensive coordinator and Vaas and Fitch perhaps as co-offensive coordinators.

Regardless of how Holtz handles their assignments, he is pleased his first major task since replacing Jim Leavitt is out of the way.

“I’m really excited to announce the addition of these five individuals to join the University of South Florida staff,” said Holtz in a statement. “They bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, relationships and recruiting background that will serve this program well.  When you look at the five, there’s experience as head coaches, coordinators - offense and defense and special teams; they have all those titles that represent the Big Ten, the ACC, the Southeast Conference, the Big 12, NFL Europe - just a lot of experience that I am happy to have within the USF family.”

Snyder spent five years as head coach at Marshall, compiling a 22-37 record before announcing his resignation Nov. 29. Prior to going to Marshall, Snyder was defensive coordinator at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win the 2002 national championship.

“Mark Snyder is a high-energy, emotional and passionate coach,’’ Holtz said.

Meanwhile, Fitch has been a member of Holtz’s staff at East Carolina for the last three seasons and has worked with Holtz for 10-plus seasons, including stops at South Carolina and Connecticut. Fitch has also worked under Don Nehlen, Earle Bruce and Lou Holtz during his 21-year career.

“Todd Fitch and I have a long-lasting relationship,” said Holtz. “Todd has a great football mind.’’

Vaas, who served six seasons as head coach of the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe, is leaving his post as offensive coordinator at Miami (Ohio) to join Holtz’s staff.

“Peter Vaas and I coached together at Notre Dame,” said Holtz. “Peter is a very intelligent individual who’s been a head coach and has an awful lot of experience and brings a great football mind to what we’re doing offensively.”

The five new hires join holdovers Kevin Patrick, Larry Scott, Carl Franks and Phil McGeoghan on Holtz’s first staff at USF.