Mourners Pay Respects to Legendary Coach Lou Holtz at Notre Dame

Public visitation held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart draws crowds from across the country.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:48am

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A public visitation for legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz was held on Sunday evening at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the university's campus. Mourners traveled from across the country to pay their respects to the late coach, with many describing the event as emotional and meaningful.

Why it matters

Lou Holtz was a beloved and iconic figure in the Notre Dame community, leading the Fighting Irish football team to a national championship in 1988 and compiling a 100-30-2 record during his 11 seasons as head coach. His passing has elicited an outpouring of grief and nostalgia from Notre Dame fans and alumni.

The details

The public visitation drew a long line of mourners who came to the Basilica to pay their respects to Holtz. Attendees included Patrick Shanley, the son of Holtz's late secretary, who recalled the personal attention Holtz gave to his family over the years. Tim and Larry Edwards, lifelong Notre Dame fans from Niagara Falls, New York, also made the trip to attend the visitation.

  • The public visitation was held on Sunday evening, March 16, 2026.
  • A funeral Mass for Holtz is scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

The players

Lou Holtz

The legendary former head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, leading the program to a national championship in 1988 and compiling a 100-30-2 record during his 11 seasons as head coach.

Patrick Shanley

The son of Holtz's late secretary, who recalled the personal attention Holtz gave to his family over the years.

Tim Edwards

A lifelong Notre Dame fan from Niagara Falls, New York, who attended the visitation to pay his respects to Holtz.

Larry Edwards

Tim Edwards' brother, also a lifelong Notre Dame fan from Niagara Falls, New York, who attended the visitation to pay his respects to Holtz.

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What they’re saying

“The things that that man did — took time out from his schedule to talk to us whenever he came to the campus. She was in assisted living and he wrote a handwritten letter from Florida years after he retired. He walked the walk.”

— Patrick Shanley, Son of Holtz's late secretary (WNDU)

“He's always held a special spot in our hearts. We've been Notre Dame fans our entire lives and it was the least we could do to show our respects. He was a true man on and off the field. He just did so much for everybody. Just a joy to listen to him and watch him. He was something special.”

— Tim Edwards (WNDU)

What’s next

The funeral Mass for Lou Holtz will be held on Monday, March 17, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus. The service will be open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis, and will also be livestreamed with on-campus viewing available at Washington Hall and Purcell Pavilion.

The takeaway

Lou Holtz's legacy as a beloved and iconic figure in the Notre Dame community is evident in the outpouring of grief and nostalgia from fans and alumni who traveled from across the country to pay their respects during the public visitation. Holtz's personal touch and commitment to his players and staff left a lasting impact that transcended his success on the football field.