Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, one of the sport’s most recognizable figures for both his coaching résumé and outspoken public presence, has entered hospice care at age 89, his family confirmed.
Holtz’s family announced the news Friday, saying he has transitioned to end-of-life hospice care following a storied career in football and broadcasting.
Born on Jan. 6, 1937, Holtz is best known for leading the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a perfect 12-0 season and a national championship in 1988. He compiled a 100-30-2 record at Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Over a 33-season college coaching career, Holtz compiled a 249-132-7 record, with stops at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, and South Carolina, becoming the only coach to lead six different programs to bowl games. After coaching, he worked as a national television analyst and motivational speaker, remaining a beloved figure in the sport.
On air, he was known for his energetic style, motivational tone, and distinctive voice and delivery, which became part of his public persona.
In recent years, Holtz also became known outside of football for his political commentary. He frequently supported Republican candidates, including President Donald Trump, often framing his views around themes of patriotism, faith, and traditional values.
The Daily Caller continues:
Holtz began his football career as a linebacker at Kent State before a knee injury ended his playing days. After graduating in 1959, he launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Iowa in 1960. Over the next nine years, he served as an assistant coach at William & Mary, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Ohio State — where the Buckeyes won a national championship in 1968. In 1969, Holtz landed his first head coaching position at William & Mary in Virginia.
He also took the Irish to bowl games for nine consecutive seasons, still an all-time Notre Dame record.
After leaving Notre Dame, Holtz worked as a commentator for CBS Sports before coming out of retirement to coach the University of South Carolina from 1999 to 2004. He then joined ESPN as a college football analyst, where he became a fixture of the network until his retirement in 2015.
President Donald Trump awarded Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020. That same year, Holtz spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Trump’s reelection.
Tributes from former players, colleagues, and public figures have highlighted his leadership, motivational presence, and lasting influence both on and off the gridiron.
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