Holtz Leaving TV to Coach South Carolina

Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz is leaving his CBS football analyst position to take the head coaching job at struggling South Carolina.

CBS Sportsline reported Thursday that Holtz would join the Gamecocks, and a source close to the university who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed it. ESPN also reported Holtz had agreed to take the job.

“I’ve heard the reports and those are accurate,” the source said.

South Carolina Athletic Director Mike McGee would not confirm a deal had been made.

An announcement had been expected Thursday night, but none was made.

A man who answered the phone at Holtz’s Orlando, Fla., home who would not give his name said he was not aware of any deal. Several later calls to Holtz’s home got busy signals.

A CBS spokeswoman said Holtz is expected to work for the network this weekend. Holtz, with “College Football Today” colleagues Tim Brando and Craig James, are scheduled to do a show Saturday and announce the Baltimore Raven-Tennessee Oiler NFL game on Sunday.

Previous reports have said South Carolina was prepared to offer Holtz as much as $1 million a year.

South Carolina went 1-10 this year, its worst season in 106 years of football, and fired coach Scott on Nov. 23. The Gamecocks lost their last 10 games after a season-opening 38-20 victory over Ball State and were 0-8 in the Southeastern Conference.

Holtz left Notre Dame in 1996 after 11 years at the school. He won a national championship at Notre Dame and his record there was 100-30-2.

Holtz said recently that his wife’s health was a primary concern before he would take another job. Beth Holtz is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

In late November, he said: “I feel that God wants me to coach, otherwise he wouldn’t have put the desire in me. I do enjoy coaching at the college level, but will not be active until my wife is well.”

Holtz was an assistant at South Carolina from 1966-67.

Holtz and McGee are good friends and Holtz’s name surfaced for the South Carolina job even before Scott was fired.

McGee met with Holtz at least twice, including last Sunday and Monday in Columbia. While Holtz was in town, Gov.-elect Jim Hodges, a South Carolina graduate, called to encourage him to take over the Gamecocks, Hodges’ spokeswoman Nina Brook said.

“He called him and said, ‘We really need you. Please come,’ ” she said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

College Coaching Changes

Recent football coaching changes at major colleges:

* Auburn--Tommy Tuberville replaces interim coach Bill Oliver, who replaced Terry Bowden.

* Clemson--Tommy Bowden replaces Tommy West.

* Duke--Carl Franks replaces Fred Goldsmith.

* Hawaii--No replacement yet for fired coach Fred vonAppen.

* Iowa--Kirk Ferentz replaces Hayden Fry.

* Mississippi--David Cutcliffe replaces Tommy Tuberville.

* Oklahoma--Bob Stoops replaces John Blake.

* Nevada Las Vegas--John Robinson replaces Jeff Horton.

* Northeast Louisiana--No replacement yet for fired coach Ed Zaunbrecher.

* South Carolina--Lou Holtz reportedly to replace Brad Scott.

* Southwest Louisiana--No replacement yet for Nelson Stokely, who resigned.

* Tulane--No permanent replacement for Tommy Bowden; Rich Rodriguez appointed interim coach.