GREENVILLE — In Skip Holtz, Terry Holland didn't hire the best available coach on the market. The East Carolina athletics director did his school a better service by hiring the right one.

Throughout a search that included one of the most highly pursued coaches in the business — Ron Zook — Pirates fans anticipated a statement hire from their trusted AD. What they got was an important message — East Carolina football would return to its blueprint of old.

"I've always had respect for East Carolina because I think they've always been a program that has been a group of overachievers," Holtz said. "A group of guys kind of with a chip on their shoulder that go out there and play with unbelievable heart and desire, effort and attitude type of deal.

"They go out and they play with a swagger. They play with a purpose."

That was the modus operandi on which East Carolina's football success was built. But after a two-year period during which the Pirates won only thrice, Holtz now must reignite the program's emotional flame.

Between now and August, ECU must return to its blue-collar roots. The football school that once succeeded despite the superior odds that were usually stacked against it must again embrace its disadvantages and use them to its advantage.

That's the path Holtz indicated he will take.

Based solely on first impressions, East Carolina's new coach understands and appreciates the program's mission. Though he hasn't had time to fully explore the terrain, he obviously knows ECU football is a vital part of Down East culture.

"East Carolina has made a living in Eastern North Carolina," Holtz said. "When you go back and look at the great teams that have played at East Carolina, most of it has been comprised of Eastern North Carolina, and this has been a home base for a lot of years.

"I think that's where the recruiting process needs to start is in Eastern North Carolina. We need to start at home. We need to start here and we need to draw a circle around the state of North Carolina and say this is where it needs to start. We need to find out if there are 25 young men who we can feel can go out there on that field and help us win a championship, that have a desire to be at East Carolina."

It's a proven strategy at East Carolina. Look first at home for the right type of player who best fits the philosophy and maximize his potential.

Former Pirates coach Steve Logan won consistently with local talent that, for the most part, was passed over by schools from bigger conferences. Instead of relying on blue-chippers to do the heavy lifting, he focused on developing players with a proven, experienced staff.

Holtz wisely is committed to that philosophy.

"I don't think that's going to be our answer here, is pulling out the nation's Top 50 and chasing them all over the country," Holtz said. "I think what we have to do a good job of is evaluating talent, evaluating personality, evaluating character, evaluating students, to bring in people who are going to be here for the four-to-five-year long haul.

"Because if they come in here and they are here for the four-to-five-year long haul, they will have worked hard enough. They will develop into a player. Maybe they won't be a four-year starter for us, but they have a chance."

Because Holtz has a solid grasp on the challenges ahead, ECU now has a chance to return to its once-proud stature. What details Holtz hasn't gotten a handle on yet, he is willing to learn.

Thanks to Holland, East Carolina again has a coach whose philosophy fits the mission.