Lou Holtz, Notre Dame Coaching Legend, Dead at 89

Lou Holtz, the Hall of Fame college football coach who led Notre Dame to its last national championship and became one of the most beloved figures in the history of the sport, died Wednesday in Orlando, Florida. He was 89. He had been in hospice care since January and was surrounded by family when he passed.

"Louis Leo 'Lou' Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America's most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89," his family said in a statement released through Notre Dame. "Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics."

Notre Dame president Rev. Robert A. Dowd offered his own tribute. "Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and a devoted husband, father and grandfather," he said. "Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime."

A Career Unlike Any Other

Holtz's coaching career spanned nearly five decades and six college programs — William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina — making him the only coach in college football history to lead six different programs to bowl games. He also briefly coached the New York Jets in 1976, going 3-10 before resigning with one game left in the season. His departure from the NFL produced one of the most quoted lines of his career: "God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros."

He returned immediately to the college ranks, taking over at Arkansas in 1977 and going 11-1 in his first season. He finished his time with the Razorbacks with a 60-21-2 record before eventually landing the job that would define his legacy.

Notre Dame hired Holtz as its 25th head coach in 1985. What followed was one of the most celebrated runs in college football history. In 1988, the Fighting Irish went 12-0, won the Fiesta Bowl, and claimed the national championship. His overall record at Notre Dame was 100-30-2 — still third in program history — and he finished in the top ten four additional times during his tenure. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and in 2020 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

His final collegiate stop was South Carolina, where he arrived in 1999 to find a program that had gone 0-11 the year before. By 2001, the Gamecocks were 9-3. He retired from coaching after the 2004 season and went on to spend a decade as a studio analyst for ESPN's college football coverage.

Remembering Coach Holtz

Senator Lindsey Graham, who knew Holtz personally during his time at South Carolina, was among the first to respond to Wednesday's news. "A giant tree has fallen with the passing of my good friend, Lou Holtz," Graham said. "I deeply believe that Lou Holtz is now in the hands of a loving God, and his pain is over."

The University of South Carolina also released a statement: "The impact of Coach Holtz's tenure is not limited to wins, awards, bowl games, or historical milestones. It is reflected in the quotes and social media posts of his former players, coaches, and staff. His true legacy lies in the life lessons he taught — lessons that extended far beyond football."

Holtz was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Beth, who passed away in June 2020. He is survived by four children — including head coach Skip Holtz — nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame. Details are being finalized.