Lou Holtz, the revered head coach who led college football teams for over three decades, is now in hospice care at the age of 89.
Holtz spent significant time on the sidelines at Arkansas and Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish for 11 seasons from 1986 to 1996, achieving an impressive record of 110 wins, 30 losses, and 2 ties. In 1988, under his guidance, Notre Dame secured its last national championship with a flawless 12-0 record.
Throughout his career, Holtz accumulated a total coaching record of 249 wins, 132 losses, and 7 ties. He also became well-known as a college football analyst for ESPN in the years following his coaching tenure.
Before becoming a head coach in 1969 at William & Mary, he began his coaching career as an assistant in 1960 after a stint as a player at Kent State University. Holtz later took the helm at North Carolina State but left the NFL after a brief, unsuccessful run with the New York Jets.
In recent times, Holtz has been vocal in his support for former President Donald Trump. He expressed that the country needed to “[ed] to make America great again!” on social media. His advocacy for Trump included speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention, and soon after, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Trump, a moment he reflected on with a mix of pride and humility.
During this award ceremony, he remarked, “This is the highest honor or award you can receive, and I accepted this award with mixed emotions… There are a lot of people who are far more deserving than I am.” He added that he admired Trump for his presidency, calling him “one of the great presidents of my lifetime.”
