Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz died at the age of 89, surrounded by family in Orlando.
His family announced his passing on March 4 in a statement shared by Notre Dame, where he coached from 1986 to 1996. A 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, Holtz continued in many football-related and higher education endeavors after his coaching career.
“Holtz is remembered for his enduring values of faith, family, service, and an unwavering belief in the potential of others,” his family’s statement read.
“His influence extended far beyond the football field through the Holtz Charitable Foundation and the many players, colleagues, and communities shaped by his leadership.”
“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,” Notre Dame president Rev. Robert A. Dowd said in a statement on Wednesday.
Holtz’s overall coaching career spanned from 1969 at William & Mary to 2004 with South Carolina. He had a career record of 249–132–7 in 33 years of coaching, and Holtz’s win total sits at 10th all-time among all college football head coaches.
Besides William & Mary and South Carolina, Holtz also coached at Arkansas, Minnesota, and North Carolina State. He gave the NFL a try in 1976 with the 3–10 New York Jets.
Holtz coached many future NFL stars during his time in South Bend, which included the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown. Other Notre Dame players under Holtz who went on to play in the NFL included Jerome Bettis, Rick Mirer, Ricky Watters, Rocket Ismail, Irv Smith, Bryan Young, Aaron Taylor, and Renaldo Wynn.
“Lou’s impact at Notre Dame goes well beyond the football field,” current Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman shared in a statement.
“He and his (late) wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carrying out Notre Dame’s mission of being a force for good.”
Holtz established a couple of major traditions in the Notre Dame program, which are carried on to this day. That includes the famed “Play Like A Champion” sign above the locker room in the stadium tunnel, and the players tap it on their way. He also switched to jerseys with no names on the back.
For Holtz, coaching at Notre Dame was a childhood dream. The East Liverpool, Ohio, native grew up following the Fighting Irish and attended St. Aloysius Catholic School, where he said he often marched to the Notre Dame victory song.
“I never thought I would be here. I never thought I would have this opportunity,” Holtz said in his introductory press conference in 1986.
Holtz was born in 1937 in Fallansbee, Virginia, before his family moved to Ohio. He played at Kent State University before his coaching career, which included assistant roles before William & Mary. Holtz notably served as an assistant for the 1968 Ohio State football team under head coach Woody Hayes.
After coaching, Holtz worked on broadcasting until 2015. He also participated in various political endeavors and appeared in many commercials.
Holtz is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, who passed in 2020, and is survived by children Elizabeth, Kevin, Luanne, and Lou “Skip” Jr. The longtime coach had entered hospice for an undisclosed illness in January.
Notre Dame will have a Mass of Christian Burial at the Sacred Heart Basilica on campus, which the school will announce.
“I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers over the last couple months,” Skip Holtz wrote via X on Wednesday. “He was successful, but more important he was significant.”
