ELON, NC –- Will Holthouser, Elon’s defensive coordinator and defensive back coach during the 1998 and 1999 campaigns, returns to the Phoenix in the same capacity effective immediately as announced by Elon head football coach Al Seagraves Friday afternoon.

Holthouser, who spent the past two years as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, replaces Morris Starr. After spending three years with the Phoenix (the first one as the running back coach and the last two as the defensive back coach), Starr tendered his resignation effective immediately to pursue other interests.

In 1999, Holthouser directed the 9-2 Elon defense in yielding only 276.1 net yards per game against the country’s “toughest NCAA-IAA schedule” according to www.ncaa.org. Also that season, the Phoenix held opponents to 17.5 points and 114.0 rushing yards per contest. Elon finished the 1999 campaign ranked eighth in the nation in total defense, 16th in scoring defense and 21st in rushing defense.

“Will Holthouser brings a wealth of experience and great chemistry to our staff,” said Seagraves. “He is an outstanding football coach and he did a magnificent job when he was here back in 1998 and 1999.”

Holthouser began his college coaching career at The Citadel in 1983, working with the defensive ends and the linebackers. He moved on to become the defensive coordinator at VMI in 1986 and was promoted to assistant head coach there in 1989.

In 1990, Holthouser started a seven-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Western Carolina University. Prior to his first stint at Elon, he served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Gardner-Webb University for a year in 1997.

“Will and I have known each other for the past 15 years,” said Seagraves. “It is great to have him back.”

A native of Elkin, NC, Holthouser graduated from Wake Forest University with a business degree in 1973. He was a three-year letterman for the Demon Deacons’ football team and a member of their 1970 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team.

-- ELON --