Remembering Lou Holtz: January 1937-March 2026 

The sports world can be overwhelming, like a massive machine that engulfs the present and makes it easy for some to slip out of the spotlight. It is remarkable how athletes and coaches, who were once household names, get lost or overlooked in such a vast complex. Yet sometimes, an individual makes an indelible mark on their sport. The late Lou Holtz was such a person. He etched his persona on the college football edifice and rightly so.

First Steps

Holtz started his college football journey as a walk-on for the Kent State University Golden Flashes. He launched his decades-long coaching career as a graduate assistant while pursuing his Master’s degree at the University of Iowa.

Holtz moved on from Iowa and into the world of assistant coaching. He spent most of the 1960s in this role at a number of colleges and universities. Holtz honed his skills at William & Mary from 1961–1963, Connecticut during the 1964 and 1965 seasons, South Carolina from 1966–1967, and Ohio State University during 1968. The Buckeyes needed Coach Holtz for only a single season, as the team won a national championship with him on the sidelines.

Calling the Shots

In 1969, Holtz returned to Virginia, taking the position of Head Coach at William and Mary. The season before Holtz’s arrival, the team went 3-7 and was 2- 2 in conference play. In the span of a single season, he led the team to the Southern Conference title, earning them an invitation to the Tangerine Bowl.

In 1972, Holtz moved to North Carolina State University and had a 33–12–3 record in four seasons. His numerous achievements with the NCSU Wolfpack include four bowl game invitations, an ACC Championship, and a trio of Top 20 rankings. His efforts and successes caught the NFL’s attention, and in 1975 Holtz took on the role of head coach of the New York Jets.

Unfortunate Foray into the NFL

It’s well known that the learning curve from collegiate football to the NFL can be steep. Someone should have mentioned this to Lou Holtz before he signed on the dotted line with the New York Jets. It could have prevented a spectacularly awful 3-11 season.

The Jets’ management should have rescinded their offer after discovering that their newly minted head coach had not participated in or watched any NFL games. Holtz himself admitted to the New York Times that, “If I knew the NFL was this tough, I would never have taken the job.” This quote came after Holtz coached his third preseason game. When the Jets fell to 3-10, Holtz walked away from the NFL and returned to the collegiate arena where he excelled.

Impressive Return

Holtz became the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1977. During his seven years at Arkansas, Holtz led his team to six bowl appearances. During his first season, the Razorbacks became Co-National Champions after a stunning win over Oklahoma.

Minnesota was Holtz’ next stop in 1984. He breathed new life into the Golden Gophers program, eventually earning an appearance at the Independence Bowl in 1985. Holtz did not coach in the bowl game, because he accepted a position at Notre Dame as the head coach of the Fighting Irish.

Holtz’s role at Notre Dame is generally considered his best-known and most defining. The Irish thrived under Holtz’s strict leadership. In his second season with the team, Holtz led Notre Dame to the Cotton Bowl. The following year, the Irish went undefeated en route to a National Championship. Holtz led the team to nine consecutive bowl games. During his 10 years at Notre Dame, the school logged 100 victories.

In Retirement

After leaving Notre Dame as the second-winningest coach after Knute Rockne, Holtz worked as a commentator at CBS for two years.

 Out of Retirement

In 1999, Holtz re-entered coaching, taking the helm at the University of South Carolina. In just his second season there, Holtz transformed the team. He took the Gamecocks from winless in 1999 to an 8-4 record and a berth in the 2000 Outback Bowl. This turnaround earned Holtz National Coach of the Year honors. Holtz continued to enjoy success at the University of South Carolina. In 2005, he retired for a second time.

Retired Again

In the years after his final retirement, Holtz was in and out of the public eye. He gained controversial attention for his strong support of Donald Trump and members of the Republican Party.

Lou Holtz is an enduring icon in college football. The walk-on who grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio, inspired generations and changed the game. His legacy will be remembered as it can simultaneously show us the past and point towards the future of the game. Rest easy, Coach, your impact on college football will be remembered.