Lou Holtz, the Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six schools, has died. He was 89.
Notre Dame announced Wednesday that Holtz died in Orlando, Fla., surrounded by his family. Spokeswoman Katy Lonergan said the family did not provide a cause of death.
Holtz became the first — and so far only — coach to lead six schools to bowl games during a career in which he compiled a 249-132-7 record. He ranks 10th all time in career victories by an FBS coach and eighth with 388 games coached.
At Notre Dame, he went 100-30-2 in 11 seasons, producing both the third-highest win total in school history and the second-highest loss total.
Holtz won at every stop — except for a brief stint in the NFL.
He didn’t just win games either. The diminutive coach captivated fans with his occasionally fiery sideline demeanor, his self-deprecating wit and folksy phrases, all while demanding excellence, on and off the field, from his much larger players.
Holtz became such a popular personality that after coaching his last game in 2004 for South Carolina, he parlayed that into a broadcasting career and motivational speaking.
AP’s Michael Marot contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/lou-holtz-notre-dame-dies-at-89/



