Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator
Stu Holt, a western North Carolina native and 20-plus-year coaching veteran, is in his fourth season as Appalachian State's running backs coach and his third year as the special teams coordinator.
Darrynton Evans gave App State a 1,000-yard rusher for the seventh straight season even though he didn't become App State's primary back until the fifth game, after Jalin Moore suffered a season-ending injury. App State scored a special teams touchdown in each of its first four games and has also ranked among the national leaders in blocked kicks (six), blocked punts (four), kickoff return average, punt return average, net punting and touchbacks.
Led by Moore, App State ranked first in the Sun Belt and 22nd nationallly by rushing for 223.6 yards per game in 2017. The Mountaineers rushed for more than 300 yards in each of its last three games, including 327 in the bowl win against Toledo.
Three different running backs had 100-yard games for Appalachian in 2017, and Moore is set to be one of six FBS players, at most, entering 2018 with back-to-back seasons of 1,000 rushing yards. Moore gained a Sun Belt-leading 1,037 yards and rushed for 12 touchdowns in 11 official games.
On special teams, App State benefited from the kicking of Chandler Staton, who finished season 8 of 9 on field goals and 31 of 31 on extra points. Ike Lewis ranked 15th nationally with an average of 26.1 yards per kickoff return.
In 2016, Holt coached both the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year in Moore and the program's all-time leading rusher in Marcus Cox, who went over 5,000 yards for his career in the Camellia Bowl win over Toledo. Moore and Cox combined to be one of the most productive positions in all of college football, as they formed one of only three duos to average over 100 yards per game apiece during the 2016 season. App was No. 10 nationally in rushing yards per game at 250.9 and led the Sun Belt in the category for the second consecutive year.
Holt's special teams were also responsible for one of the biggest plays in App's season. Freshman kick returner Darrynton Evans' returned a third-quarter kickoff in the Camellia Bowl for 94 yards to spark the Mountaineers to their bowl win. Freshman placekicker Michael Rubino enjoyed a sterling first year, going 13-of-13 from inside of 40 yards and punter Bentlee Critcher earned Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week honors against Georgia State after a flawless day punting, keeping the Panthers backed up in a 17-3 App win.
In Holt's debut season, the Mountaineers were led by junior Marcus Cox, who continued his record-setting career by finishing with 1,418 yards – good for 17th in the nation and third in the Sun Belt. Cox again topped national and conference rankings with 118.6 yards per game (13th national; 3rd Sun Belt) and all-purpose yards (132.2 yards per game), ranking second in the Sun Belt and 20th in the nation.
With Holt helming the ground game, Appalachian State finished No. 6 in the nation and second in the Sun Belt with 271.5 yards of rushing offense. A heavy and successful running attack also helped the Mountaineers lead the Sun Belt Conference in total offensive yards with 466.2 yards per game, good also for 20th nationally.
App's special teams also excelled in Holt's first season on the mountain, improving from 128th to 25th in efficiency from 2014 to 2015. Kicker Zach Matics was named First Team All-Sun Belt after going 14-of-17 on FGs and drilling the game-winner as time expired to win the Camellia Bowl. Matics also helped kickoff coverage with 40 touchbacks (50%).
Holt came to Appalachian State after two seasons at the University of South Florida, where he was serving as the Bulls' tight ends coach and special-teams coordinator. He arrived at USF as director of player personnel in 2013 before taking over as special-teams coordinator prior to the ‘13 season. He added oversight of the Bulls' tight ends to his duties in 2014.
In 2013, Holt was nominated for the Broyles Award (National Assistant Coach of the Year) after USF's special teams improved in nearly every statistical category despite having to replace its starting place kicker and punter from the previous season. Under Holt's tutelage, USF's special teams were ranked No. 3 nationally by ESPN Stats Info. The Bulls led the American Athletic Conference and ranked No. 9 nationally in punt returns (14.44-yard average) and first-year place kicker Marvin Kloss was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award (national kicker of the year).
USF's special teams continued to excel under Holt in 2014, when punter Mattias Ciabatti set a school record with a 44.4-yard punting average. The first-team all-conference selection led the AAC with 22 punts downed inside the 20 and 18 boots of 50 yards or more.
Before his stint at USF, Holt spent eight of the previous nine seasons at Western Kentucky, first as running backs coach (2004-09) and later as tackles/tight ends coach (2011-12). He also coordinated the Hilltoppers' special teams in 2005 and ‘09 before capping a seven-year stint coaching running backs with one season at Tennessee State (2010).
In seven seasons as a running backs coach, Holt has produced impressive ground attacks and individual rushers. His units ranked among the NCAA Division I FCS top 25 in rushing twice — 14th at WKU in 2004 (226.2 ypg) and 24th at Tennessee State in 2010 (190.0 ypg). Additionally, he coached two 1,000-yard rushers at WKU (Lerron Moore and Tyrell Hayden). Moore finished his career as the Hilltoppers' all-time leading rusher with 4,396 yards and Hayden's 1,134 yards in 2007 was the 10th-highest single-season rushing total in program history.
In addition to his successful time at USF, WKU and Tennessee State, Holt's collegiate coaching experience also includes stints at Bethune-Cookman (inside linebackers/special teams - 2001), Cumberland (defensive line/special teams - 2000), Western Carolina (graduate assistant - 1998-99) and Norwich (1996). He also has three years of experience at the high-school level, including two years as head coach at New Smyrna Beach H.S. in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. (2002-03).
Over the course of his career, Holt has coached seven student-athletes that have gone on to play in the National Football League — Brian Claybourn, Jack Doyle, Mitchell Henry and Bobby Rainey at WKU, Ciabatti, Sean Price (TE), Kloss and Mike McFarland at USF and Wake Forest all-American Steve Justice at New Smyrna Beach H.S.
Holt played at North Carolina from 1992-95, going to four bowl games as a long snapper for the Tar Heels. He graduated from UNC in 1995 with a B.A. in English and earned a B.S. in education from Western Carolina in 2000.
He grew up just 54 miles from Appalachian State in Hamptonville, N.C. He attended high school at Starmount H.S. and played for his father, B.W. Holt, the fourth-winningest coach in North Carolina high school football history.
Holt and his wife, Kim, have three daughters — Payton, Maggie and Ann Wallace.
HOLT AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
1996: Norwich (linebackers/special teams)
1997: Mainland (Fla.) H.S. (running backs)
1998-99: Western Carolina (graduate assistant)
2000: Cumberland (defensive line/special teams)
2001: Bethune-Cookman (inside linebackers/special teams)
2002-03: New Smyrna Beach (Fla.) H.S. (head coach)
2004-09: Western Kentucky (running backs*)
2010: Tennessee State (running backs)
2011-12: Western Kentucky (tackles/tight ends*)
2013: South Florida (director of player personnel)
2013: South Florida (special teams)
2014: South Florida (tight ends/special teams)
2015: App State (running backs)
2016-present: App State (running backs/special teams)
* also coordinated WKU's special teams in 2005 and 2009 and return game in 2011
Playing Experience
1992-95: North Carolina (LS)
Alma Mater: North Carolina, 1995
Hometown: Hamptonville, N.C.
Birthdate: Dec. 13, 1972
Wife: Kim
Daughters: Payton, Maggie and Ann Wallace
Twitter: @CoachStuHolt
