Skip Hotlz Leaving Pirates for South Florida Bulls

Head coach Skip Holtz of the East Carolina Pirates watches during a game in late 2009. He is reported to be leaving to coach the South Florida Bulls. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

East Carolina Coach Skip Hotlz is set to leave the Pirates to take a coaching position with South Florida Bulls after their firing of Jim Leavitt.

South Florida has reported on their website that Holtz is ready to take the reigns for the Bulls who have needed a coach. Leavitt was reportedly terminated from his position after an alleged assault of a team player; the accusation says that he grabbed a player by his neck and hit him in the face.

The player originally wanted a public apology for Leavitt’s actions but team officials are believed to think that he was unstable and replaced the coach rather quickly.

Leavitt coached the South Florida Bulls for 14 years before his termination.

The Pirates have acknowledged the departure of Hotlz but have not appointed an official replacement. On the East Carolina website they stated that Skip Holtz “led the Pirate program to unprecedented heights during his five year tenure” and have posted a write-up to conclude his career with the team.

One of Hotlz’s greatest achievements as coach of the Pirates was leading them to their only two consecutive Conference USA Championship victories.

The Associated Press reported that the buyout for Holtz was only $100,000 and that his contract would be up in 2013.