Former college football coach and television analyst Lou Holtz has died at 89.
Holtz entered hospice in January. On Wednesday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced his death on behalf of his family.
“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” said University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., in a statement.
“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. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”
Holtz’s legendary career saw him as the head coach at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina, and he even had a stint in the NFL as head coach of the New York Jets.
Holtz is most known for his time as the head coach at Notre Dame, though. He took over a struggling Fighting Irish football program in 1986, and by year two, he had them in the Cotton Bowl.
In 1988, Notre Dame went 11-0 in the regular season and defeated West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl to claim the national championship.