Lou Holtz, the celebrated College Football Hall of Fame coach who led the University of Notre Dame to an undefeated national championship season in 1988, has passed away at the age of 89, reports Baltimore Chronicle via University of Notre Dame tribute. Holtz’s death was officially confirmed by Notre Dame, which honored his contributions and legacy on its official website. University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd described Holtz as “a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family, and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather,” noting that he will be remembered as a teacher, leader, and mentor who inspired his players on and off the field.
Holtz entered hospice care in late January 2026 for undisclosed reasons. At the time, his son Kevin Holtz released a family statement emphasizing that their focus was on maintaining Lou Holtz’s comfort, quality of life, and care at his home in Orlando, Florida.
Over a coaching career spanning 33 seasons and six college programs, Holtz achieved a total of 249 wins, 132 losses, and seven ties. He also spent one season as head coach of the NFL’s New York Jets in 1976. However, Holtz’s tenure at Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996 remains his most iconic period. During those 11 seasons, he led the Fighting Irish to a perfect 12-0 season in 1988, culminating in a Fiesta Bowl victory over West Virginia to secure the national championship. That season marked the beginning of an 11-year run that included a 23-game winning streak, back-to-back 12-win seasons—the first in Notre Dame history—and a program-record nine consecutive bowl game appearances.
Holtz was known for his innovative and team-focused approach. Upon joining Notre Dame, he removed player names from jerseys to emphasize collective effort over individual accolades, a tradition that continues in regular-season games to this day. A native of West Virginia, he became the first coach in NCAA history to guide six different programs to bowl games and the only coach to take four distinct schools into the top 20 final rankings.
Beyond Notre Dame, Holtz served as head coach at William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975), the University of Arkansas (1977–1983), the University of Minnesota (1984–1985), and the University of South Carolina (1999–2004). In 2008, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Following his retirement, Holtz worked as a college football analyst for several networks, including ESPN. In 2020, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump at the White House.
Holtz is survived by his four children—Luanne, Louis “Skip” Jr., Kevin, and Elizabeth. His wife, Beth Holtz, passed away in 2020.
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