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BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe talks during a press conference after the Big 12 officially accepted BYU's application to join the league on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (BYU Photo)

Jaren Wilkey/BYU

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BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe talks to Cougar fans at the BIG Party celebrating BYU joining the Big 12 conference that took place in Provo on Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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BYU football coach Kalani Sitake (right) and Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe (center) discuss the state of the program with Dave McCann at media day at the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Lauren Gustin accepts a basketball from Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe for becoming the program's all-time career rebound record holder with 1,493 on Jan. 20, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU head coach Mark Pope talks to director of athletics Tom Holmoe after the NCAA Tournament game against Duquesne in Omaha, Neb., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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New BYU men's basketball coach Kevin Young shakes hands with Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe at the Provo Airport on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU senior Tyler Batty (92) gets a hug from director of athletics Tom Holmoe before the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

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Former BYU defensive back Derwin Gray (1) talks to Cougar players and BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe during the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl against Colorado at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.

Jaron Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU defenders Alex Miskela (45), Dayan Ghanwoloku (5) and Austin Lee (2) talk to Cougar director of athletics Tom Holmoe after practice. The BYU football team held its first spring practice in the Indoor Practice Facility on March 4, 2019.

BYU Photo

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BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe talks with staff before the NCAA football game between Brigham Young University and Boise State University on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald

Spenser Heaps

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BYU Athletics Director Tom Holmoe announces Kalani Sitake as the new football coach on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 after the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald

SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald

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Former BYU quarterback Jim McMahon, left, with current BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe at the BYU Hall of Fame induction banquet on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014.

Mark_Philbrick

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BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe chats it up with fans before the New Mexico Bowl.

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Tom Holmoe, BYU athletic director, speaks to media gathered for a press conference at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on BYU's announcement of their independent status for football and move to the West Coast Conference for all other sports Wednesday, Sept 1, 2010. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald

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BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe shows off the plaque presented by Deseret First vice president Trena Anderson during the 2009-10 Deseret Duel trophy presentation at the BYU Legacy Hall in Student Athlete Building on the campus of BYU, Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Deseret First presented the Deseret Duel trophy to BYU after they defeated Utah, 45.5-15.5, this year in sports. The following sports beat Utah this year to help with the final points standing: women's soccer, football, women's and men's basketball, women's swimming, softball, baseball, and men's tennis. PATRICK SMITH/Daily Herald

PATRICK SMITH

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Dave Rose, left, head coach of BYU basketball, laughs with BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe, while staying upbeat as Rose addresses questions regarding his cancer during a press conference at the Marriott Center Wednesday, June 24, 2009. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald

❮ ❯

After 20 years of service as BYU’s director of athletics, Tom Holmoe announced today that he will be retiring from his position at the conclusion of the 2024-25 athletic season.

Holmoe lifted BYU Athletics to new heights during his tenure, leaving an undeniable mark and legacy.

His tireless work to champion BYU helped lead to BYU joining the Big 12 Conference in 2023. His creative football scheduling through an era of independence, making key head coaching hires in multiple sports, being named a NACDA Athletic Director of the Year and numerous other awards and accomplishment will long be remembered. For those who knew Holmoe well, more impressive was his love and care for the more than 4,000 student-athletes who competed at BYU under his watch and his commitment to the unique values and mission of BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Holmoe’s retirement comes on the heels of BYU’s celebration of its 100th season of football. As a player, coach and administrator, Holmoe was a part of BYU football for more than a quarter century, playing and coaching as a graduate assistant alongside his mentor and legendary coach LaVell Edwards. Holmoe will retire on a high note, after one of BYU football’s most successful football seasons, defeating Colorado in the Alamo Bowl to cap an 11-2 season and finish with a No. 13 final ranking.

Holmoe will address the media and Cougar Nation in a news conference that will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. Watch live on BYUtv and BYUtv.org.

Holmoe was named director of athletics at BYU on March 1, 2005. He’s overseen a nationally recognized program with 21 intercollegiate sports, involving more than 600 student-athletes per athletic season and a 220-person staff. Since his appointment, BYU captured four national championships and 133 conference regular-season and postseason championships. More than 350 student-athletes have earned All-America status.

In addition to his role as director of athletics, Holmoe served as a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee from 2015-18 and was the executive council committee chair for the West Coast Conference from 2014-17. Over his 20-year tenure, BYU has an average ranking of 36th in the annual NACDA Learfield Directors’ Cup, ranking all athletic programs in the country. For the 2020-21 athletic season, BYU finished No. 17 in the Directors’ Cup standings. In the fall of 2022, for the first time ever, BYU finished No. 1 in the Directors’ Cup standings for fall sports.

Holmoe was named the 2020-21 NACDA Athletic Director of the year, highlighting efforts of athletics directors for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. He received the 2023 John L. Toner Award from the National Football Foundation, recognizing athletics directors who have demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football.

A former Cougar defensive back from 1978-82, Holmoe returned to BYU in 2002 as associate athletic director for development. As part of his responsibilities, he supervised the Cougar Club, served as the department’s liaison with the LDS Foundation, served on the BYU Alumni Association Board of Directors and worked on the capital campaign to raise funds for the university’s new athletic facilities.

A native of La Crescenta, Calif., Holmoe first came to BYU on a football scholarship in 1978. He earned first-team All-WAC honors as a senior in 1982 and was selected in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Over a seven-year NFL career, he 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 under Edwards from 1990-91 and later accepted an offer from Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh to become the Stanford secondary coach in 1992, where he remained for two seasons. In 1994, he returned to the 49ers as defensive backfield coach for two seasons, where he earned a fourth Super Bowl ring. Two years later, Holmoe joined the University of California staff as defensive coordinator and later became the head coach from 1997-2001.

Holmoe graduated from BYU with a degree in Zoology in 1983 and received a master’s degree from BYU in athletic administration in 1995.

Holmoe and his wife, Lori, have four children and 10 grandchildren.