Lou Holtz, the Hall of Fame football coach who led Notre Dame to a national championship and became one of the most recognizable figures in college football, has died at the age of 89, the university confirmed Wednesday, March 4.
Holtz, who coached the University of Notre Dame from 1986 through 1996, guided the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship with a perfect 12-0 season capped by a victory over West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl.
During his tenure in South Bend, Holtz built one of the most dominant stretches in the program’s history. Notre Dame went 64-9-1 during a seven-year run beginning in 1988, a stretch that included a 23-game winning streak, back-to-back 12-win seasons, and a program-record nine straight bowl appearances.
Holtz finished his career with 249 wins as a collegiate head coach, including 100 victories at Notre Dame, cementing his place among the sport’s most successful coaches.
A Lasting Legacy At Notre Dame
Beyond wins and championships, Holtz helped establish traditions that remain part of Notre Dame football today.
The famous “Play Like A Champion” sign that players touch on their way out of the locker room was introduced during the Holtz era. He also removed players’ names from the back of jerseys during regular season games to emphasize the team-first culture he believed defined the program.
Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
He remained closely connected to Notre Dame long after stepping down as head coach in 1996. During the 2025 football season, Holtz returned to campus to present the colors during the national anthem before the Irish faced Texas A&M.
Among the standout players he coached at Notre Dame were 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and future College Football Hall of Famers Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, Michael Stonebreaker, Aaron Taylor, and Chris Zorich.
Coaching Career Across College Football
Holtz’s coaching career spanned decades and multiple programs.
He began his head coaching career at William & Mary in 1969 before moving to NC State, where he won the 1973 ACC championship.
After a brief stint in the NFL with the New York Jets, Holtz returned to college football at Arkansas, where he led the Razorbacks to a stunning upset over No. 3 Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl.
He later coached at Minnesota before taking the Notre Dame job in 1986.
Following his retirement from Notre Dame, Holtz spent time as a college football analyst with CBS Sports, but eventually returned to coaching in 1999 at South Carolina.
His first season with the Gamecocks ended with an 0-11 record, but the program quickly rebounded. South Carolina went 8-5 the following season, including a victory over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl, earning Holtz national coach of the year honors.
Impact Beyond The Field
Holtz’s influence extended well beyond football.
Former players created Holtz’s Heroes, a charitable foundation that supports former student-athletes facing financial, physical, or mental hardship while also funding scholarships and community service programs.
Holtz and his wife Beth also supported numerous initiatives at Notre Dame, including the Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room at Hesburgh Library, which was dedicated in 2021 following Beth Holtz’s death in 2020.
The couple also helped fund scholarships for students with financial need and supported renovations to several residence hall chapels on campus.
In a statement following his death, University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd remembered Holtz as far more than a football coach.
“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,” Dowd said. “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.”
Holtz was born Jan. 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, and grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio. He played linebacker at Kent State University before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Iowa in 1960.
He is survived by his four children: Luanne, Lou “Skip” Jr., Kevin, and Elizabeth.
