So now that Washington has fired defensive coordinator Nick Holt, the obvious question is who's next? And when?

The statement released by the Huskies on Saturday announcing the firings of Holt, safeties coach Jeff Mills and linebackers coach Mike Cox was short on details, saying only a nationwide search will begin immediately. Washington also has to find a replacement for cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin, who left for UCLA earlier this month.

It's possible coach Steve Sarkisian will want to get a coordinator in place first before filling the other spots, allowing the coordinator some say in how the staff is filled.

With letter-of-intent day approaching on Feb. 1 and the recruiting season kicking back into high gear soon, the Huskies will likely want to fill some of the spots within the next few weeks.

Here's a look at some names initially rumored as possible candidates to replace Holt:

Rocky Seto: Like Holt, Seto worked alongside Sarkisian an assistant at USC. When Holt initially turned down the coordinator's job at UW in December 2008, it was offered to Seto, who decided to stay at USC. Washington then was able to lure Holt. Seto is now the defensive backs coach with the Seahawks.

Chuck Heater: Heater, the defensive coordinator at Temple, worked at UW from 1999 to 2003 under Rick Neuheisel and Keith Gilbertson as cornerbacks coach and running backs coach.

Jim Heacock: A former assistant at Washington from 1983 to '87, Heacock has been at Ohio State since 1996, and defensive coordinator since 2005, but is not being retained as part of the staff of new coach Urban Meyer.

Craig Bray: Bray, who worked at Washington State under Dennis Erickson and Mike Price, has been the defensive coordinator at Arizona State the past five years but is not being retained as part of the staff of new coach Todd Graham.

Tyrone Nix: Another out-of-work defensive coordinator, having spent the past four years at Ole Miss and before that held the same spot at South Carolina.

Justin Wilcox: A former defensive back at Oregon and native of Junction City, Ore., he is the defensive coordinator at Tennessee but previously was defensive coordinator at Boise State and also assisted at California. He might be intrigued by a possibility to move back West.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @bcondotta