Husky DC Nick Holt represents a true culture change

by John Berkowitz on Jan 5, 2009 7:55 PM PST Comment 15 comments

I think Husky fans are really going to like new defensive coordinator Nick Holt. Things are going to be extemely live and vocal with Holt in charge of the defense.

Talk about your changes in culture. Husky practices starting this spring aren't going to resemble anything that has been seen in Montlake this past decade.

Coach Holt believes in contact. He believes in hitting every single day in practice. He believes the only way to be physical on game day is to practice like that every day. Sort of reminds me of the way Don James used to run things.

Holt definitely provides the Washington defense gets an extra dose of fire and passion. Check out this YouTube Video of Coach Holt wired for sound at Competition Tuesday. I think it will give you all a good idea on the way Holt coaches a defense.

Here's some quotes from a column from the Orange County Register concerning Holt from a few weeks ago.

"You better tackle every day if you want to be successful," said Holt, whose conversational style can only be described as hydroelectric. "I have to make sure I bring the same intensity to practice every day. If I'm dragging on a certain day, I have to tell myself, ‘Hey, let's go, the guys out there are counting on me.'

"Our philosophy is built on not letting anybody behind you," Holt said. "You're disciplined, and you don't miss tackles. And then you pressure the quarterback and force turnovers."

Washington had a press conference scheduled for 3:00 PM today but that was cancelled when it became evident that Holt wasn't going to get hit campus till areound 6:00 PM.

"This is very exciting for Husky football," said Husky Head Coach Steve Sarkisian. "I don't think we could have found a more qualified or successful defensive coordinator anywhere in the country."

The press conference will be held on Tuesday at 12:30 PM and will be broadcast live on KJR and www.gohuskies.com.

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Lambo video....

uhhh, I mean the Holt video looked great. Any player not excited and ready to go is going to get run over. I want to watch the first practice now.

by dawgdude on Jan 5, 2009 8:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Holt's Passion

We can all use a shot of that, huh fans? I remember watching some of those clips of that 96 game at Husky Stadium against BYU, guys played with emotion back then and flew around the football. We have a lot to look forward to with the Sark attack and Holt’s defense, I can’t wait!

Crazidawg please don’t push yourself into cardiac arrest! We…well probably most of us anyway, want you to enjoy this with us!

by dawgfan22 on Jan 5, 2009 8:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Even I want a go at competition Tuesdays

That clip was exciting and it really makes me want to take Sark up on the invitation to watch practices. I feel like it will really enhance my appreciation for Husky football. With a lot of USC’s coaching talent coming to UW, you have to think that will shake up the recruiting landscape. With the absence of wins, this has been one of the best days of my Husky fandom for a while now. With this new coaching staff their fighting blood, once again, will excel.

On a different note, if someone referred to my conversational style as “hydroelectric” I would be a little insulted. I took a field trip to the Bonneville Dam in elementary school and calling it boring would be an understatement.

Our leather lungs together...

by attakid117 on Jan 5, 2009 8:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I feel good..

…for our athletes. They have got to be pumped!

by dawgfan22 on Jan 5, 2009 8:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah i got jacked up just watching competition Tuesday! Exactlt what we need to turn our puppies into DAWGS!

by 206 on Jan 5, 2009 10:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Holt will be fun to watch

I think it is a great hire.

We have both of USC’s coordinators and another one from Cal.

I think the coaching staff is shaping up well.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 5, 2009 10:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'll be headed up

to watch some practices. I was going to do that with a Dawgman member (BurntRidgeDawg) that lives just down the road (20 miles) last year but we never hooked up. I will this year

by T9ODawg on Jan 6, 2009 7:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That Youtube was SWEET!!

This guy is just what the Football team needs! I’m talking the ENTIRE football team. Those drills will help both sides of the ball and not just the drills but the intensity.

by dawgfan22 on Jan 6, 2009 7:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great YouTube Clip!

by bigdave967 on Jan 6, 2009 8:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great hire.

Husky football looks to be back. The only problem I have with this hire (and it’s a small nitpick given our current state), is that I think Holt will take this opportunity to take a head coaching job in 3 years. That’s the way it is with young talented coaches though.

by LantermanC on Jan 6, 2009 9:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

If Holt gets hired away, it likely means he did a good job here. And if he does a good job here, that should make it that much easier for Sarkisian to find a good replacement for him. When you have great coaches on staff, you will have attrition as they get hired away to move up the coaching ladder.

by kirkd on Jan 6, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Raiding Huskey coaches

Many of our ex-coaches will get new jobs, but nobody was raiding the program. If Holt does so well with the D that teams come looking for a HC, so be it. Our old staff stayed in tact, was that a good feeling? If success brings raiders, bring it on!

by dawgdude on Jan 6, 2009 10:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Moving on

That is how it works.

If Holt does a good job here and turns it around he will get another opportunity to be a head coach. That is why he came here.

It is all about opportunity.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 6, 2009 12:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Not only another opportunity but...

if he can turn around an 0-12 team with a very bad defense he will be the next “Hot Assistant” like Wil Muschamp was this year. For him that will mean head coach offers from any top BCS school that is struggeling at that time.

by Snostrebla on Jan 6, 2009 1:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

0-12

You turn around an 0-12 team with the worst defense in the BCS and some doors will open up for you. As you can tell Holt needs a little more PR polish too so time spent in Montlake will be a good thing.

by John Berkowitz on Jan 6, 2009 2:35 PM PST reply actions 0 recs