Holt gets power and money to join Washington

Nick Holt is leaving behind the sunshine of Los Angeles and the assembly line of top recruits that cycle into USC's program yearly to take over a Washington defense that was the worst in school history a season ago.

Even Holt thinks it sounds a little crazy.

"A lot of people are probably looking at this move and scratching their heads," Holt said on Tuesday.

Lured by money, power and challenge, Holt agreed to a $2.1 million, three-year contract to become Washington's new defensive coordinator, the biggest coup so far for new Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian.

Holt's resume is impressive. He directed USC's swarming, talent-laden defense for the past three seasons. His acquisition comes at a steep price to Washington - $600,000 for 2009, $650,000 in 2010 and '11, plus an additional $200,000 retention bonus paid up front that Holt must repay a portion of if he leaves before his contract ends.

All told, Holt's deal easily makes him the highest paid assistant in Washington's history, well ahead of new offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik, who came from California and will make $350,000 per season as part of a three-year contract.

Holt's average of $700,000 per season is $100,000 more than the contract for Washington State head coach Paul Wulff.

"I had an idea that to get the best, you have to pay," Washington athletic director Scott Woodward said.

Holt insisted after his introductory news conference Tuesday - surprisingly well-attended by media, boosters and university employees starving for something positive in Seattle's miserable 2008 sports year - that the move north to Washington wasn't simply about money, almost to the point of apologizing for the size of his salary.

Along with the bounty of cash is the power to run Washington's defense however he wants and the challenge of resurrecting a team at its lowest point in school history.

It won't be an easy task for Holt, who directed the best defense in the country during the 2008 regular season while at USC. The Trojans allowed just 7.75 points and 206 yards per game while rolling to their seventh straight Pac-10 title, then capped their season with a resounding 38-24 win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

Meanwhile, Washington's lackluster defensive unit allowed nearly 452 yards and 39 points per game.

"We better improve. To answer your question, that's not good enough. We need to get those numbers down to be successful in the Pac-10," Holt said.

Holt also will have complete autonomy with the Huskies' defense. While at USC, Holt would construct the game plan each week, but on game days head coach Pete Carroll would take over the majority of the playcalling. Sarkisian's intent is to simply give the defensive side of the game to Holt and let him do as he pleases.

Landing Holt was a product of Sarkisian's continued recruiting. The pair first discussed the position after Sarkisian landed the head job with the Huskies in early December. Holt balked at first, but the duo continued talks when Sarkisian returned to USC to serve as offensive coordinator for the Rose Bowl.

Eventually, Sarkisian's perpetual badgering - he joked of calling Holt every 5 minutes - won over the fiery former linebacker, who wore a wool coat with the Rose Bowl logo embroidered on the collar.

"He's the best defensive coordinator in the country and I told myself from day one and I told Scott (Woodward), and (university) president (Mark) Emmert in taking this job that I was going to assemble the best staff in the country," Sarkisian said. "We went out and, in my opinion, got the best offensive line coach in America to be the offensive coordinator in Jim Michalczik. Our next step was to go get the best defensive coordinator in America and that was Nick Holt and we've been able to accomplish both those things."