Nick Holt, who was the head coach at Idaho for 2 recent seasons and previously was an assistant at USC, returned to the Trojan program in February of 2006 as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Combined, he is in his fifth year at USC.
Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was an All-American first teamer in 2006. USC was 12th nationally in scoring defense (14.9), 17th in rushing defense (97.7), 20th in pass efficiency defense (107.9) and 23rd in total defense (293.8). USC played in the 2007 Rose Bowl.
Holt spent the previous 2 seasons (2004-05) as the head coach at Idaho, going 5-18. The Vandals were 3-9 in 2004 and 2-9 in 2005.
He originally joined the Trojan staff in January of 2001 and spent 3 seasons (2001-03) as the linebackers coach. In 2002, linebacker Matt Grootegoed was an All-Pac-10 first teamer. USC played in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, 2003 Orange Bowl (USC won the national championship that year) and 2004 Rose Bowl.
He was the defensive line coach at Louisville for the previous 3 seasons (1998-2000). In 2000, the Cardinals were fourth nationally in rushing defense (79.9), set a school record for sacks with 50 (second in the nation) and were second nationally in turnovers with 38. Louisville appeared in a bowl game each season (the 1998 Motor City Bowl, 1999 Humanitarian Bowl and 2000 Liberty Bowl).
Holt, 44, came to Louisville after 8 seasons (1990-97) at Idaho. He was in charge of the defensive line for the first 5 years and then was the linebackers coach the final 3 seasons. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the last 4 of those seasons. His 1994 unit topped Division I-AA in run defense (and was fifth in 1995).
He began his coaching career in 1986 as an assistant at St. Mary's High in Stockton (Calif.). He then was a graduate assistant at UNLV in 1987 before becoming the Rebels' linebackers coach the following 2 seasons (1988-89).
He lettered 4 years (1981, 83-85) at linebacker for Pacific. He was an All-American honorable mention selection in 1985, when he also earned All-AP West Coast and All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association notice. He was Pacific's MVP in 1985 and a team captain as a junior and senior.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political economics from Pacific in 1986.
He played football and baseball at Bellarmine Prep in San Jose, Calif.
He was born Oct. 15, 1962. He and his wife, Julie (who was the head women's basketball at Nevada Reno, Pacific, Gonzaga, Idaho and Los Angeles Harbor Junior College), have 2 sons, Nick, 13, and Ben, 9.
His maternal grandfather was Clarence "Buster" Crabbe, USC's first All-American swimmer (1931) who was a 1931 NCAA freestyle titlist and 1932 Olympic gold medalist (he won a bronze in 1928) before starring in Hollywood as Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.
BIRTHDAY: Oct. 15, 1962
FAMILY: Wife, Julie; Sons, Nick, 13, and Ben, 9
HIGH SCHOOL: Bellarmine Prep, San Jose, Calif.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, political economics, Pacific, 1986
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Bellarmine Prep, San Jose, Calif. Pacific, linebacker, 1981, 1983-85
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 21 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 2006 | USC | Def. Coordinator/DL | Rose |
| 2005 | Idaho | Head Coach | ------ |
| 2004 | Idaho | Head Coach | ------ |
| 2003 | USC | Linebackers | Rose |
| 2002 | USC | Linebackers | Orange |
| 2001 | USC | Linebackers | Las Vegas |
| 2000 | Louisville | Def. Line | Liberty |
| 1999 | Louisville | Def. Line | Humanitarian |
| 1998 | Louisville | Def. Line | Motor City |
| 1997 | Idaho | Def. Coord/Linebackers | ----- |
| 1996 | Idaho | Def. Coord/Linebackers | ----- |
| 1995 | Idaho | Def. Coord/Linebackers | ----- |
| 1994 | Idaho | Def. Coord./Def. Line | ----- |
| 1993 | Idaho | Def. Line | ----- |
| 1992 | Idaho | Def. Line | ----- |
| 1991 | Idaho | Def. Line | ----- |
| 1990 | Idaho | Def. Line | ----- |
| 1989 | UNLV | Linebackers | ----- |
| 1988 | UNLV | Linebackers | ----- |
| 1987 | UNLV | Graduate Asst. | ----- |
| 1986 | St. Mary's HS | Asst. Coach | ----- |
