Like current Miami football head coach Manny Diaz and his predecessor Mark Richt. skip Holtz began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida State under Hall of Fame coach Bobby Bowden. Holtz was a graduate assistant at Florida State during the 1987 and 88 seasons.
Richt was a grad assistant at FSU under Bowden from 1985-88. Richt left to become the offensive coordinator at East Carolina for the 1990 season. Holtz left Florida State to become the wide receivers coach at Colorado State under former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce.
Richt returned to Florida State in 1990 as the quarterbacks’ coach.