Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach who led Notre Dame to a national championship and built one of the most respected careers in college athletics, has died at the age of 89.
Holtz passed away in Orlando surrounded by family, according to a statement shared by his loved ones on social media. A cause of death was not immediately released.
Born in Follansbee, West Virginia, in 1937, Holtz spent more than five decades shaping college football and mentoring generations of players. Over the course of his career, he became one of the most recognizable and respected figures in the sport.
Holtz served as head coach for several major programs during his 33 seasons on the sidelines, including the College of William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. He also briefly coached in the NFL, spending one season with the New York Jets.
His most iconic chapter came at Notre Dame, where he coached from 1986 to 1996. During that time, Holtz led the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship and helped restore the program to national prominence.
Under his leadership, Notre Dame recorded 100 victories during his tenure.
By the time Holtz retired from coaching in 2004, he had accumulated 249 wins as a college head coach, cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 2020, Holtz received one of the nation’s highest civilian honors when President Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award recognized not only his accomplishments in football but also his work as an author, speaker, and philanthropist.
Holtz remained a well-known voice in sports and public life long after retiring from coaching, often appearing on television and at speaking events.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beth.
Holtz is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He is now the coach on the Lord’s team.