BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe announces retirement after 20 years

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Tom Holmoe — who has been the Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University since March 2005 — announced his retirement plans on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

According to the university, Holmoe will be retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 athletic season, after one of BYU’s “most successful football seasons.”

During his tenure, BYU won 171 football games and made 18 bowl game appearances. Also during his time as athletic director, Holmoe hired Kalani Sitake, Bronco Mendenhall, Dave Rose, Mark Pope, and Kevin Young.

The university went to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament 10 times under Holmoe, and men’s and women’s cross country won four national titles during his time. Holmoe was named the 2020-2021 NACDA Athletic Director of the Year and won the 2023 John L. Toner Award.

Holmoe oversaw a program with 21 intercollegiate sports, 600 student-athletes per season, and 220 staff members. More than 350 athletes earned All-America status since he was appointed.

Holmoe was a defensive back for the BYU Cougars from 1978 until 1982. He later went on to be selected in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, playing on three Super Bowl championship teams.

He returned to BYU after retiring from professional football and worked as a graduate assistant under LaVell Edwards from 1990-1991. After a few other roles with Stanford, the 49ers, and the University of California, Holmoe became the associate athletic director for development at BYU in 2002.

“Holmoe lifted BYU Athletics to new heights during his tenure, leaving an undeniable mark and legacy,” the university said in a press release.