Tom Holmoe was a football player and his future wife, Lori, served as a cheerleader when they met at a BYU basketball game.

"I love BYU, I love sports and I love Tom, so those are the three things that get me to events," said Lori, who is half of BYU's most visible sports couple.

The Holmoes can be seen together at many sporting events, as Tom often is either in work or support mode.

"I think it's been fun for our family," Tom said. "She'll tell you that when you're a coach's wife or an administrator's wife, you have to make a choice. You can either be a part of it, or you're way out of it."

For some time, it was easier to stay home. Lori's never felt the desire to travel with Tom and the teams. But his career became especially stressful on the family from 1997-2001 as her husband tried his shot at being a college football head coach.

It was a rare string of disappointments for the Los Angeles-area native who had a successful career as a BYU football player, was eventually drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1983, went on to win some Super Bowl rings and became a coach at various spots like Cal and Stanford for 19 years.

Holmoe went 12-43 at Cal, and toward the end was a real drag. Fans were upset and media spewed venom daily.

It sure seems like a long time ago when Holmoe was uncertain of what to do next. Offers came in to keep coaching, but he wasn't sure that was the life for him anymore. He decided on becoming an associate athletic director at BYU with an emphasis on fundraising -- a different kind of recruiting, but nonetheless complementary toward his people-person nature.

Two sons, Danny and Erik, were bummed about the decision of their father to stop being a coach -- and the prospect of leaving what was their only known home.

They were both in high school and skeptical of moving to Provo, which certainly has its differences compared to the San Francisco area.

"They didn't want to come to Provo," Lori said. "We also had a daughter (Shannon) who was a freshman at BYU. But coming here, Tom became a father more often. It became a different schedule because he wasn't coaching. That, to me, was a big move. He got to spend more time with them at an age when it's really needed. And our boys had more friends than they did in California."

One daughter's left in the house, 14-year-old Lauren.

An emptier nest means more time for Lori and Tom to spend together watching the Cougars. And it means regular trips to The Malt Shoppe.

"She thinks I'm a cheapskate," Tom quipped. "We go out for ice cream and then I get us into the games for free."

Hey, that's an enviable deal. Since Holmoe took over the athletic department in March 2005, there have been lots of fans who would love free tickets. The Cougars won 14 Mountain West Conference titles just in 2006-07 and their two revenue sports are clicking as Bronco Mendenhall (football) and Dave Rose (men's basketball) have combined to win the last four league titles. Holmoe had major influence in both hires.

The Holmoes know scrutiny can be even greater in Provo than it was at Cal -- not as many other teams, schools or other diversions in Utah Valley.

They have thrived here again, though, in a replay of Tom's success in his first go-around at BYU. While on the football team, the Cougars won five Western Athletic Conference titles. He and Lori dated 1 1/2 years and were married before his senior year.

Sensing he'd want to be an athletic director someday, Holmoe received a master's degree from BYU in 1995 for athletic administration.

It's come in handy, Cougar fans and Holmoe's wife would agree.

"Things are good," Lori said. "I hope we can keep them that way. I've really enjoyed going to so many of the sports. I was a cheerleader in college and was used to football and basketball. But it's been great to become familiar with the other teams and athletes."