Lou Holtz, a coaching legend and architect of Notre Dame's storied past, has taken his final steps towards the end, according to reports from ABC57 and other sources. The 89-year-old, who led the Fighting Irish to their iconic 1988 national title under his guidance, is now in hospice care.
Sources close to the family have confirmed the news, bringing an end to a storied career that spanned over three decades and yielded impressive results on the field. As a collegiate coach, Holtz compiled an astonishing .651 win percentage with a record of 249-132-7, including a remarkable 12-0 season in 1988.
Beyond his time at Notre Dame, Holtz also had notable stints as head coach at William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), and Minnesota (1984-85). He even made a brief foray into the NFL as the New York Jets' coach in 1976.
After hanging up his coaching helmet, Holtz went on to serve as an analyst for ESPN from 2004 to 2015. His enduring legacy was recognized with a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump in 2020.
As news spreads about Holtz's final days, fans and colleagues alike are taking time to pay tribute to a coaching icon who left an indelible mark on the world of college football.
Sources close to the family have confirmed the news, bringing an end to a storied career that spanned over three decades and yielded impressive results on the field. As a collegiate coach, Holtz compiled an astonishing .651 win percentage with a record of 249-132-7, including a remarkable 12-0 season in 1988.
Beyond his time at Notre Dame, Holtz also had notable stints as head coach at William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), and Minnesota (1984-85). He even made a brief foray into the NFL as the New York Jets' coach in 1976.
After hanging up his coaching helmet, Holtz went on to serve as an analyst for ESPN from 2004 to 2015. His enduring legacy was recognized with a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump in 2020.
As news spreads about Holtz's final days, fans and colleagues alike are taking time to pay tribute to a coaching icon who left an indelible mark on the world of college football.
... but at the same time, I'm kinda thinking he had one last hurrah in the afterlife, you know? Like, all those years of coaching and he's finally getting a chance to show off his skills on the other side 
. I mean, can you imagine him in heaven with Jim Harbaugh, yelling at referees and whatnot? 
That'd be epic! On the other hand, it's kinda sad that we won't get to see him around anymore... he was a legend of the sport for sure 
.
. I mean, 12-0 in '88? That's just insane! He was more than just a coach, though - he built these programs from the ground up and left them better than when he got there 
. It's gonna be tough to see him go, but his legacy lives on and we'll always have those epic games to look back on 
.
his stats are insane 249 wins and .651 win percentage is unreal 
i remember watching some of his games at notre dame with my dad and it was always such an exciting experience 
those were the days
. i mean 3 decades of winning & still .651? that's crazy. not many coaches can say they won a national title in '88, especially with the team they had at the time. he must've done something right 
. and then to go from coaching to analysis & still make it big? he really is a coach's coach. i wonder if we'll see more of his commentary now that he's not competing on the field anymore 
and who can forget that 1988 season where he went 12-0? it's crazy to think that's over now rest in peace coach 
he was always so passionate about the game, it's a shame he won't be able to share his knowledge with us anymore 