Former Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Lou Holtz Enters Hospice Care

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Lou Holtz has entered hospice care at the age of 89. Holtz coached the Razorbacks from 1977 to 1983, compiling a 60-21-2 record with three bowl wins, including the 31-6 rout of Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and is the only coach in the history of college football to take six different teams to a bowl game, win five bowl games with various teams, and have four different college teams ranked in the final top 20.

Why it matters

Holtz is considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, with a storied career that spanned multiple decades and programs. His tenure with the Arkansas Razorbacks was particularly successful, and his entry into hospice care marks the end of an era for a legendary figure in the sport.

The details

After coaching the Razorbacks, Holtz went on to coach at William & Mary, N.C. State, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Notre Dame on the college level, as well as the New York Jets in the NFL. He won a national championship with the Fighting Irish in 1988. Following his coaching career, Holtz had a long and successful run as a college football analyst on ESPN.

• Holtz coached the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1977 to 1983.
• Holtz entered hospice care in January 2026 at the age of 89.

What they’re saying