Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz passed away on March 4 in Orlando, Florida at age 89. In weeks following, the Notre Dame community gathered to mourn the loss of a legendary coach who left a lasting legacy on and off the field.
A public visitation was held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on March 15. Lines stretched from the basilica past nearby Sorin Hall throughout the dreary Sunday evening. The following day, family and friends gathered at the basilica for Holtz’s private funeral Mass.
Former President Father John Jenkins, C.S.C. delivered the homily, describing Holtz as “a man of love who showed that love to everyone he encountered.” Later in the service, Holtz’s son Louis ‘Skip’ Holtz, Jr. gave an emotional eulogy, remembering his father as “a devoted friend to many who witnessed his sense of humor, wit, wisdom, and generosity.”
Holtz was laid to rest beside his late wife, Beth Holtz, at Cedar Grove cemetery on Notre Dame’s campus.
In a 2023 interview with NFL broadcaster Joe Buck, Holtz shared his thoughts about choosing the university’s campus as his final resting place: “My wife and I made our decision. We’re going to be buried at Notre Dame. Our burial plots are at Notre Dame and it’s on campus and they’re beautiful. They overlook the golf course, which I love, and the Golden Dome.”
Raised in East Liverpool, Ohio, Holtz attended Kent State, where he played as a linebacker on the football team. Football coaches Rick Forzano and Frank Spouse of Kent State were the first to recognize his potential as a future coach. Holtz said of them, “They believed in me and they could see that I was going to be a coach when I was a sophomore or junior.”
Holtz earned his first head coaching job in 1969 at the College of William & Mary. He went on to coach at North Carolina State University, University of Arkansas, and University of Minnesota. At North Carolina, Holtz posted a 33-12-3 record, leading a team with only three total postseason appearances to four consecutive bowl games. At Arkansas, he led the Razorbacks to six bowl games and a 60-21-2 record from 1977–1983.
Holtz’s success culminated in his tenure at Notre Dame, where he amassed 100 wins in 11 years. He led the team to a national title in 1988 after a historic 12-0 season, returning the program to the national spotlight. He had notable seasons in 1987 and 1989 as well, where the team went 8-4 and 12-1, respectively. Holtz finished his career at Notre Dame in 1996, with a final record of 100-32-2. He retired from coaching in 2004 after a stint at South Carolina and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Although he was best known for his coaching, Holtz’s friends emphasized the deeper legacy he left behind. As Fr. Jenkins made clear during Monday’s funeral Mass, there was “another side of Lou that was not always on public display.”
Holtz always found time for Daily Mass, despite his busy schedule. Fr. Jenkins described Holtz’s life as one “guided by faith,” calling the coach an admirable Catholic who was unceasingly dedicated not only to football, but also “to the education and faith for which this university stands.” Skip echoed this sentiment, saying that his father “was a devout Catholic who aligned with what Notre Dame stands for and Our Lady on the Golden Dome.”
In addition to his devotional practice, Holtz was a fierce defender of the unborn, telling a crowd of pro-lifers in Evansville, Indiana, “We’ve got to be the voice for the unborn—or nobody else will.” At the 2020 Republican National Convention, Holtz also criticized former U.S. president Joe Biden for leading “the most radically pro-abortion campaign in history. They … abandon innocent lives,” Holtz continued, calling Biden a “Catholic in name only.”
Holtz’s relationship with his players did not end when he stopped coaching them. He put his mantra—“What Can I Do For You?”—into action through the nonprofit he established, Holtz’s Heroes Foundation. According to its website, the organization “supports former student-athletes” and “provides scholarship aid to deserving youth and serves communities in need through charitable works.” Reggie Brooks, a player under Holtz and the current executive director of Holtz’s Heroes, explained, “Coach has been there for us in the good times and the hard times.”
Holtz’s legacy also lives on in the lasting contributions he made to the university. He gifted a new two-story reading room in Hesburgh Library in honor of his late wife, Beth, which officially opened in 2023. Students frequent the reading room throughout the day and well into the night. Trevor Boland, a freshman theology major, said, “The reading room is my go-to spot whenever I need to focus on writing a paper.”
Despite Holtz’s extraordinary achievements, he remained true to his humble origins and his faith. He told his players, “When we do what is right, we bring glory and honor to Notre Dame. When we win in football, we help this university. To reach your potential, you must learn to love this university. Put your faith, confidence and belief in Jesus. That is what this university is all about. It’s your decision, but I firmly believe that Our Lady on the Dome will watch out for you. Spend some time at the Grotto, and you’ll discover that this school is special.”
Lou Holtz, rest in peace.
Jacob Schierl is a freshman studying ACMS and the Program of Liberal Studies from Elmhurst, IL. His love for reading is being tested by the college workload. Email him at jschierl@nd.edu if you can relate.