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Lou Holtz’s family makes statement following death of legendary coach

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Mar 4, 2026 6:06 PM ET

College football lost one of its most recognizable figures.

Lou Holtz has died at 89, leaving behind a legacy built over decades on the sidelines.

The longtime head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish claimed the 1988 national championship and finished his career with 249 wins, 100 of which came in South Bend between 1986 and 1996.

That 1988 season ended with a perfect 12-0 record and a Fiesta Bowl win over the West Virginia Mountaineers, kicking off a dominant 64-9-1 run that included a 23-game winning streak, the program's first back-to-back 12-win seasons and nine straight bowl appearances.

Former Notre Dame Fighting and Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Lou Holtz in a press conference prior to the gameNelson Chenault-Imagn Images

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish shared a statement on X from the Holtz family confirming the news.

"Louis Leo 'Lou' Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America's most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family. Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics," the statement read.

The family confirmed that funeral arrangements are being finalized, including a Mass of Christian Burial at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.

From the family of Lou Holtz pic.twitter.com/aYWiXYVnLq
— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) March 4, 2026

Holtz meant more to people than the wins and the titles. His life centered on faith, family and service, and that outlook carried well beyond the football field. The Holtz Charitable Foundation extended his influence into communities long after his coaching days ended.

He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Former Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz is carried off the field following their victory over Colorado winning the 1989 National Championship at the Orange Bowl.RVR Photos-Imagn Images

His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 was the formal recognition, but his real mark on Notre Dame shows up every game day. Holtz installed the "Play Like A Champion" sign in the locker room, and players still tap it on the way out.

He also pulled names off the backs of jerseys to put the team above the individual, a tradition the program still honors in regular-season games. That is the kind of thing that outlasts any trophy.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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