College Football Hall of Fame Coach Lou Holtz Passes Away

Holtz led Notre Dame to 1988 national title and won 249 games over 35-year career

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:03pm

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Lou Holtz, a 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame who coached Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and won 249 games over a 35-year career at six different programs, passed away on March 4 at the age of 89.

Why it matters

Holtz was a legendary figure in college football, known for his success at Notre Dame as well as his ability to turn around struggling programs at several other schools. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the most influential and successful coaches in the sport's history.

The details

Holtz coached at six different schools from 1969 to 2004, including Notre Dame, Arkansas, and South Carolina. He led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title and posted a 249-132-7 overall record, good for a 65.1% winning percentage. Holtz was the only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to bowl games.

  • Lou Holtz passed away on March 4, 2026.
  • Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
  • Holtz coached at Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996, leading the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship.

The players

Lou Holtz

A legendary college football coach who led six different programs to bowl games and won 249 games over his 35-year career, including the 1988 national championship with Notre Dame.

Tim Brown

A College Football Hall of Fame inductee who played for Holtz at Notre Dame and won the Heisman Trophy in 1987.

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The takeaway

Holtz's passing marks the end of an era for one of the most successful and influential coaches in college football history. His ability to turn around struggling programs and lead Notre Dame to a national championship cemented his legacy as a coaching legend.