GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina coach Skip Holtz says he has withdrawn his name from consideration to become the new head football coach at Syracuse.

In a statement issued by the school on Thursday, Holtz said he had declined further discussions with Syracuse concerning the opening.

Syracuse is seeking to replace Greg Robinson, who was fired after four seasons.

Holtz, who led the 9-4 Pirates to a 27-24 victory over Tulsa to earn the program's first Conference USA championship, was in Memphis, Tenn., to talk about his team's appearance in the Liberty Bowl, in which the Pirates will face Kentucky.