The college football world lost a big part of its history with the death of legendary football coach Lou Holtz.
‘Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics. Over a remarkable five‑decade career, he led college programs at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. He transformed every team he inherited and captured the 1988 National Championship with the Fighting Irish,’ Holtz’s family said in a statement on his personal X account (formerly Twitter).
‘Holtz is remembered for his enduring values of faith, family, service, and an unwavering belief in the potential of others.’
Holtz began his coaching career at William & Mary in 1969, before moving on to North Carolina State for the 1972 season. He is most remembered for his time at Arkansas and Notre Dame, and even spent a year in the NFL with the New York Jets across his legendary career. He was also a staple as a college football commentator following his coaching career.
In 1988, Holtz led the Fighting Irish on a national championship run, as they went a perfect 12-0 on the season. Notre Dame had four top-10 wins on the season, including vs. No. 9 Michigan (19-17); vs. No. 1 Miami (31-30); at No. 2 USC (27-10); and vs. No. 3 West Virginia, 34-21, in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl.
He finished with a career record of 249-132-7 in 33 seasons as a college football coach. Holtz recorded 100 of his wins at Notre Dame, as he finished with a 100-30-2 record for a winning percentage of .765 with the Irish, who won five New Year’s Six bowl games under him.
‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz. Lou and I shared a very special relationship. He welcomed me to the Notre Dame family immediately, offering me great support throughout our time together,’ Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said in a statement shared by the program. ‘… Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the field.’
College football world sends tributes to Lou Holtz
Here’s a snippet of tributes that are pouring in from those within the college football world on the passing of Holtz:
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