ORLANDO – Famed college football coach Lou Holtz, who won the 1988 national title at Notre Dame, died Wednesday at 89, his family said.
Holtz died while under hospice care in Florida, supported and surrounded by family members.
The College Football Hall of Famer is best known for his 11-season run at Notre Dame from 1986-96. He coached five other programs and also had a disastrous 13-game stint with the NFL’s New York Jets in 1976.
Holtz began his coaching career in 1969 at William & Mary and also coached North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina, compiling a career record of 249-132-7 in 33 seasons.
Holtz went 10-12 in a two-year run at Minnesota (1984-85) before landing the Notre Dame job.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz. Lou and I shared a very special relationship. He welcomed me to the Notre Dame family immediately, offering me great support throughout our time together,” current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said in a statement. “… Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the field.”
As his reputation improved, his popularity soared and Holtz restored the Fighting Irish from a mediocre program back to the national elite.
In his third season, Holtz went 12-0 and won the national title. A memorable 31-30 upset of No. 1 Miami opened the door and Notre Dame wrapped up the season by beating West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.
In 1989, Notre Dame (12-1) finished second in the final rankings. The Irish (11-1) also were second in 1993.
Holtz went 100-30-2 in South Bend before resigning following the 1996 season.
A West Virginia native, Holtz’s fist head-coaching job was at William & Mary from 1969-71. He moved on North Carolina State for four seasons (1972-75), twice winning nine games.
He took the Jets job in 1976 and he went 3-10 before being shown the door before the NFL season was over. Holtz struggled with the pro game and with dealing with the egos of NFL players.
Holtz returned to college football at Arkansas and went 11-1 with a No. 3 final ranking in 1977. The Razorbacks put up an impressive 31-6 takedown of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl to wrap up the season.
Holtz spent seven seasons with the Razorbacks before the short stint at Minnesota.
“We are saddened by the news of Coach Holtz’s passing,” the Arkansas football program said on social media. “He had a legendary tenure as the Head Hog from 1977-83. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him.”
He had a two-season hiatus after his Notre Dame stint before returning to the field at South Carolina. He went 33-37 in six seasons with the Gamecocks before retiring.
Holtz also served as a television analyst for ESPN.
Skip Holtz followed in his father’s footsteps, spending 17 seasons as the head coach (2005-21) at East Carolina, South Florida and Louisiana Tech.
–Field Level Media