Definitive Ranking Of BYU AD Tom Holmoe’s Halloween Costumes

PROVO, Utah – BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe takes Halloween to another level. Holmoe revealed his 2020 Halloween costume on Friday, and it’s another impressive outfit.

The 16-year AD showed up to BYU’s campus wearing a Phantom of the Opera costume. 2020 is known for its masks, so that was quite the pick.

But it got me thinking, where does the Phantom rank among Holmoe’s Halloween costumes over the years? If there’s anything involving BYU sports, including Halloween costumes, you know I need to rank it.

Tom Holmoe Halloween Costume Rankings

So here you go, the definitive ranking of Tom Holmoe Halloween costumes.

Honorable Mentions

#BYUHalloween has been a popular hashtag since 2013 on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Holmoe’s Halloween costumes have gained public notoriety with the rise of social media. Still, BYU’s AD has been dressing up for the spooky holiday long before it was trendy for the ‘Gram or Twitter.

According to BYU’s Daily Universe in 2014, Holmoe dressed as Frankenstein and pop sensation Justin Bieber before #BYUHalloween became a thing. We don’t have photo evidence of the Bieber costume, but hopefully, it’s one day unearthed from the Holmoe archives. Without a picture, it has to go into the honorable mention category.

7. Albert Einstein (2015)

Ladies and Gentlemen, may we present to you @TomHolmoe, aka, Albert Einstein. #BYUHalloween pic.twitter.com/Um5tFFgCKc

— BYU (@BYU) October 30, 2015

Simple. Classy. But one of these costumes had to take the last spot. Einstein lands here.

6. Lord Voldemort (2016)

Tom Riddle or Tom Holmoe? #BYUHalloween pic.twitter.com/ALtJz7kNGo

— BYU (@BYU) October 31, 2016

I don’t claim to be the biggest Harry Potter fan in the world. But I can respect a good Halloween costume when I see one.

5. Abraham Lincoln (2013)

"In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years". Abraham Lincoln pic.twitter.com/R97appy8Tz

— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) October 31, 2013

This was the costume that started linking Holmoe as Mr. Halloween. Clean look and a great tribute to an American icon. In the words of Lincoln himself, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” Holmoe was a good “Honest Abe.”

4. Phantom of the Opera (2020)

🎵 The Phantom of the Opera (@TomHolmoe) is here!🎵 #BYUHalloween can officially begin. pic.twitter.com/XpQHKa4Ds7

— BYU (@BYU) October 30, 2020

Feels like this is too low. The simplicity is top-notch, but then he removes the mask, and it’s a work of art. It’s just hard to find a spot in the top three.

One can only imagine how many hours Holmoe spent in the chair of makeup artist Jennine Hollingshaus for this great costume.

3. Aladdin’s “Genie” (2019)

You ain't never had an AD like @TomHolmoe. Once again, he wins Halloween. #BYUHalloween pic.twitter.com/bFypWkaNHd

— BYU (@BYU) October 31, 2019

What would your three wishes from Holmoe be? I’m guessing BYU fans would probably say Power 5 membership, beating Utah at least once in football in the next decade, and some crazy alternate football uniform.

This costume had a lot of the “wow” factor going on. My question, what does someone search to find genie accessories? Impressive.

2. Mad Hatter (2017)

ICYMI, @TomHolmoe as the Mad Hatter. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/LT2oot3vbF

— BYU (@BYU) October 31, 2017

This one was wild. The makeup, creativity, and accessories were all top-notch. I thought I was looking into the eyes of Johnny Depp himself.

1. Coco’s “Ernesto De La Cruz” (2018)

Consistently the best-costumed athletic director in all the land, @TomHolmoe knocks it out of the park once again this year. #BYUHalloween

📷 @BYUphoto pic.twitter.com/gYrluYut51

— BYU (@BYU) October 31, 2018

This costume was Holmoe’s best. Imagine being his co-worker and seeing him show up to the office in this. Pretty impressive. Anything Disney is a big win, and this one hit it out of the park and made a cartoon character come to life. Very cool.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.