Holmoe inducted into Utah Sports Hall of Fame

PROVO, Utah — BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame on Monday at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Holmoe and Utah philanthropist Spencer F. Eccles were selected as the 2017 induction class for the 50-year Gala Celebration of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.

Since its organization in 1967, the Utah Sports Hall of Fame has honored more than 200 former athletes, coaches and administrators for their prominent contributions to athletics in Utah.

“I’m honored by this award,” said Holmoe. “It’s a pretty humbling experience to get a call and say you’re going to the Hall of Fame. I’ve been attending the induction ceremony for years and I’ve always been impressed with the people that go in.”

A native of La Crescenta, California, Holmoe first came to Utah to play football for BYU (1978-82). In 1983, he was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Over a seven-year NFL career, Holmoe played on three Super Bowl championship teams with the 49ers in 1984, 1988 and 1989.

After retiring from professional football, Holmoe returned to BYU to serve as a graduate assistant for two seasons under Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards (1990-91). From 1992-93 he was the secondary coach at Stanford University before returning to the 49ers as defensive backfield coach for two seasons, where he earned a fourth Super Bowl ring. Holmoe joined the University of California staff as defensive coordinator in 1996, and later became the head coach from 1997-2001. He returned to BYU again in July 2001 as associate athletics director for development. On March 1, 2005, Holmoe was named director of athletics at BYU.

“I think there was providence involved that I ended up — this California kid — in the state of Utah,” Holmoe said. “Now, coming into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, this has particular meaning for me because of the people. It’s an incredible state.”

Former BYU Cougar and Philadelphia Eagles tight end Chad Lewis, who is also a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, introduced Holmoe at a news conference in late September and shared a message from his former 49er teammate and NFL Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott.

“Tom is the best teammate who did everything to help his team win. He sacrificed his body many times on the field,” Lott said. “Congrats to Tom. I would not be in the Hall of Fame if I didn’t have Tom as a teammate. He truly made a difference in my life and he still does.”

As director of athletics at BYU, Holmoe oversees a nationally recognized program with 21 intercollegiate sports, involving more than 600 student-athletes and a 190-person staff. Since his appointment, BYU has captured 111 conference regular-season and postseason championships, and more than 220 student-athletes have earned All-America status.

In addition to his role as BYU athletics director, Holmoe is also in his fourth year serving as a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee and also served as the Executive Council Committee Chair for the West Coast Conference from 2014-17.

Holmoe graduated from BYU with a degree in zoology in 1983 and received a master’s degree from BYU in athletic administration in 1995. He and his wife, Lori, have four children and four grandchildren.