#5 Lou Holtz - Top Coaches of the 1980s

After leading William & Mary and North Carolina State to bowl games, Holtz dabbled with the NFL and the New York Jets. 

Holtz's time with the Jets was very forgettable and then took the arduous task of replacing Hall of Fame coach Frank Broyles at the University of Arkansas in 1977.

Holtz began the decade with the Southwest Conference champions Arkansas Razorback facing off in the Sugar Bowl against Southeast Conference champions Alabama Crimson Tide coached by "Bear" Bryant, who was seeking his sixth national championship. 

While the Razorbacks fell short that day, there was an undercurrent of friction that engulfed Broyles and Holtz. Things began to boil over after the 1983 season when it was announced that Holtz was no longer the head coach of Arkansas. At the time, Broyles said it was due to burnout but years later Broyles said he had fired Holtz and Holtz confirmed this in other interviews. 

Holtz then joined Minnesota but added the "Notre Dame clause" where if Minnesota were to be bowl eligible he would be able to leave Minnesota if the Notre Dame job ever were to become available. 

Minnesota was able to achieve bowl eligibility in the 1985 season, and when it became news that Gerry Faust was terminated when Minnesota accepted their Independence Bowl berth it activated the Notre Dame clause. 

It wasn't long before Holtz accepted the Notre Dame job, and where Holtz would earn his ultimate glory. 

With Notre Dame reeling from a 58-7 demolition to Miami to conclude the 1985 season and a program that was barely a .500 program with Faust at the helm, Holtz rebuilt the program from the trenches out. 

During the 1986 season, Notre Dame finished 5-6 with five of those losses being one-possession defeats (three of those five came against Top 10 competition against Michigan, Penn State, and LSU). 

The foundation was set for the 1987 season where Notre Dame would be ranked in the Top 10 at the end of the season to take on eventual national champion Miami to try to avenge their 1985 humiliating defeat. 

While the Fighting Irish had upset the mind by slowing a potent Hurricanes offense that averaged nearly 40 points per game in the contest, it was the Notre Dame offense that couldn't get anything going. The eventual Heisman Trophy winner for Notre Dame, wide receiver Tim Brown, was held to 95 all-purpose yards, who entered the game averaging 175 all-purpose yards per game.

It would be 1988 that would be Holtz's opus to college football, Notre Dame, and his career as he guided Notre Dame to its first national championship since the 1977 season. 

It would be during this campaign that Holtz and Irish would host Miami at Notre Dame which is not only the decade's signature game but it is one of the sport's all-time greatest games. 

Dubbed "Catholics vs. Convicts" the Notre Dame defense forced seven turnovers (four fumbles and three interceptions) that included the controversial Cleveland Gary fumble late in the fourth quarter that is still debated to this day. The game was secured for Notre Dame when Notre Dame defensive back Pat Terrell defended Miami wide receiver Leonard Conley on a two-point conversion attempt.

That season Notre Dame would defeat four Top 10 ranked clubs and defeat 10 of 12 opponents by double digits. 

How Holtz was able to rejuvenate Notre Dame and be successful with some brutal schedules. 

The level of difficulty between 1986 and 1989, Holtz led Notre Dame on the field against 21 ranked opponents in 48 games. Of the 21 ranked opponents 17 were ranked in the Top 10, Notre Dame would win 14 of those 21 games (10-7 against Top 10 teams). 

The way Holtz made Notre Dame relevant again and how Notre Dame won major signature games is why he is in my Top 5.