Longtime Notre Dame coach and broadcaster Lou Holtz dies at 89

Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach best known, Notre Dame coach and broadcaster Lou Holtz dies at 89                                                                        

Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach best known for revitalizing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program and leading them to a national championship, has died at the age of 89. His family and the university announced his passing on March 4, 2026 in Orlando, Florida, where he was reportedly surrounded by family at the time of his death. A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed; Holtz had been in hospice care since late January. 

Holtz was one of the most revered figures in American college football:

• He coached 11 seasons at Notre Dame (1986–1996), where he restored the program to national prominence. 

• His most famous achievement came in 1988, when he led the Fighting Irish to a perfect 12–0 season and a national championship capped by a Fiesta Bowl victory. 

• Across a 33-year collegiate coaching career, Holtz amassed 249 wins, including victories at six different schools — a testament to his ability to rebuild programs and sustain success. 

• He remains the only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games in college football history. 

After retiring from coaching, Holtz became a familiar face as a television analyst, most notably with ESPN, where his quick wit and folksy motivational style earned him fans beyond the field. 

Honors and Legacy

• Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. 

• In 2020, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States’ highest civilian honors.

• His impact went beyond Xs and Os: he inspired players with values of faith, family, service and belief in potential — principles his family highlighted in their statement. 

Notre Dame’s current coach and others in the football world publicly mourned Holtz, praising his mentorship, leadership and deep influence on the sport. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and a legion of former players, colleagues and fans who remember him as both a coach and a teacher of life lessons.