The Arizona Wildcats family lost a former football standout this week. On Monday, Julius Holt, an ex-Arizona defensive lineman, passed away at the age of 60 the team announced.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Julius Holt,” Arizona Football’s verified account said of Holt’s death. “The city of Tucson and the Arizona Football program are truly grateful for everything he has done, he will forever be an Arizona Wildcat.”
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Julius Holt. The city of Tucson and the Arizona Football program are truly grateful for everything he has done, he will forever be an Arizona Wildcat. pic.twitter.com/x81U9Ylvs6
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) April 4, 2022
Holt lined up in the Wildcats’ defensive trenches in the early 1980s. In his two seasons on the D-line, Holt racked up 135 total tackles.
Holt never went on to play professionally. Instead, took a job with the state as a Child Protective Services caseworker; after being raised by his older siblings when both of his parents passed away by the time he was 10, per the Arizona Daily Star.
For subscribers: If you were fortunate to spend any time with Julius Holt over the last 40 years, it didn’t take long to learn that he was often as close to a laugh as he was to tears. https://t.co/nXstIeKM6X
— Arizona Daily Star (@TucsonStar) April 4, 2022
The former defensive lineman would later return to Tucson’s campus to get his master’s degree. Where he was then hired to be part of the school’s athletic department as an academic counselor in the late ’90s. Holt was also a youth football coach, commissioner and community activist.
His son, Justin, also played defensive line for Arizona’s football program in 2016.
Our thoughts are certainly with Holt’s family and all of the lives in his extended Wildcats family that he touched.