Will Holthouser

Bio

Will Holthouser has had a major impact on the Tennessee Tech football team in his first four seasons on the staff, most noticeably with the record-breaking performances of Tech’s special teams which are directly under his charge.

In 2010, he added the title of assistant head coach in addition to being special teams coordinator. He also coaches the safeties and outside linebackers.

Holthouser, 61, was hired in January 2007, to coach Tech’s defensive secondary and serve as the coordinator of the special teams. Now a 34-year collegiate coaching veteran, Holthouser spent the previous two seasons as defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Gardner-Webb University before his arrival in Cookeville.

His years of experience have not only aided Tech’s efforts on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage, they have helped in special teams preparations, as well. Tech either led the league or was near the top in kickoff returns in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and last year ranked first in kickoff coverage. The Golden Eagles led the OVC in punt returns in 2007 and ranked second last year, and have blocked 14 kicks in three years under Holthouser’s guidance.

A native of Elkin, N.C., and a graduate of Wake Forest University, Holthouser was a member of the Deacons’ 1970 ACC championship team, their only league title until 2006. A defensive lineman during his playing career, he earned his degree in business in 1974.

Holthouser coached at Gardner-Webb three different times. In 1997, he was the assistant head coach as well as defensive coordinator. During that year, he helped Gardner-Webb post an 8-3 record and the nation’s best turnaround on the Division II level.

Prior to becoming a collegiate assistant coach, Holthouser spent seven years in Charlotte, N.C., as a high school coach.

He began his college coaching career at The Citadel in 1983, and has served as defensive coordinator with VMI, Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Elon and UT Chattanooga. He has had two different stints at VMI and Elon, as well as his time at Gardner-Webb.