ARLINGTON, TX – December 16, 2025 – Skip Holtz, the architect behind the Birmingham Stallions rise to dominance, officially announced he has left the United Football League (UFL). Holtz leaves behind one of the most dominant stretches in spring football history, claiming United States Football League (USFL) titles in 2022 and 2023, followed by a UFL title in 2024.
Football was ingrained in Skip Holtz from the start. The son of the legendary head coach Lou Holtz – most known for his undefeated 1988 National Championship season at Notre Dame – Skip grew up around the game, developing the leadership that would shape a lifelong career in football.
Holtz began a brief collegiate playing career at Holy Cross College, located adjacent to Notre Dame, before joining the Fighting Irish as a walk-on when his father took over the program in 1986. While his time as a player was short, his coaching career quickly took off in 1987 when he joined Florida State as a graduate assistant.
After a stop at Colorado State University as wide receivers coach, Holtz returned to Notre Dame to join his father’s staff. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1992, and from 1992–94, the father-son duo led the Irish to a 40-8 record and two Cotton Bowl Classic victories over Texas A&M.
That success led to Holtz’s first head coaching opportunity at the University of Connecticut, where he guided the Huskies for five seasons. In his final year, he led the program to its first Division I-AA playoff victory in a century, defeating Hampton University in 1998.
Holtz later reunited with his father at the University of South Carolina, serving as offensive coordinator during a stretch that produced back-to-back Outback Bowl victories over Ohio State in 2000 and 2001, with both teams finishing the season ranked in the Top 25.
In 2004, Holtz embarked on a sustained run as a collegiate head coach, taking over East Carolina University. He led the Pirates to four consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances, captured Conference USA East Division titles in 2008 and 2009, and delivered the program’s first-ever Conference USA Championship in 2008.
Following the 2009 season, Holtz accepted the head coaching position at the University of South Florida, where he guided the Bulls to an 8-5 record and a Meineke Car Care Bowl victory over Clemson. The victory marked the program’s first bowl win over a BCS opponent.
He later continued his success at Louisiana Tech, engineering a program turnaround in 2014 with a 9-5 record, a Conference USA West Division title, and a 47–28 New Orleans Bowl victory over Arkansas State.
After 27 years on the collegiate sidelines, Holtz made the transition to spring football, accepting the head coaching position with the Birmingham Stallions in 2022 – a move that would lead to one of the most dominant runs in spring football history.
In his first season with the Birmingham Stallions, Holtz delivered exceptional success, guiding the franchise to a 9-1 regular-season record and a first-place finish in the South Division. Birmingham opened the postseason with a 31-17 victory over the New Orleans Breakers in the Division Finals before edging the Philadelphia Stars, 33-30, to capture the 2022 USFL Championship.
For Holtz and the Stallions, one title was only the beginning. Birmingham returned in 2023 with the same edge and expectations, finishing 8-2 in the regular season and once again claiming the South Division crown. The Stallions closed the year on a five-game winning streak, carried that momentum into the postseason, and repeated their path to glory – defeating the Breakers in the Division Finals and the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL Championship. With that run, Holtz cemented Birmingham’s place atop spring football with back-to-back titles.
When the USFL officially transitioned into the UFL in 2024, the league changed – but the results did not. Holtz’s Stallions once again finished 9–1, earning first place in the USFL Conference and securing the top seed in the postseason. Birmingham handled business in the Conference Championship, defeating the Michigan Panthers 31-18, before completing the three-peat in dominant fashion. In the UFL Championship, the Stallions delivered a defensive masterpiece, blanking the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0 to claim their third consecutive spring title.
By the time the 2025 season arrived, Holtz had built the league’s gold standard. In his final spring campaign, he led Birmingham to a 7-3 record and a fourth consecutive first-place finish in the USFL Conference. While the Stallions’ postseason run ended with a loss to Michigan in the Conference Championship, the result did little to diminish what had already been accomplished.
As Holtz steps back from the sidelines, he leaves behind a spring football dynasty defined by discipline, dominance, and sustained excellence – a standard that future teams will be measured against for years to come. While his run with the Stallions has reached a pause, Holtz made clear that this moment is about reflection, not finality.
“I am not retiring. This is simply the right moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead,” Holtz said. “I’m excited about the next steps in my journey and energized by new possibilities. I look forward to seeing where this path leads.”