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Lou Holtz, the former head football coach at Notre Dame, Arkansas and more who won a national championship with the Fighting Irish, died on Sunday in Orlando, Florida, the Holtz family announced. He was 89 years old.
"One of the most affable coaches of his generation, Holtz won 249 games as a collegiate head coach with 100 of those victories earned at Notre Dame from 1986 through 1996," a statement from Notre Dame Athletics read. "Holtz’s lasting legacy at the University of Notre Dame goes beyond his accomplishments and traditions with the football program."
Holtz, who guided the Fighting Irish to a national championship in 1988 and the Razorbacks to an 11-1 debut season in 1977, was the head coach at William & Mary (1969-71), NC State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), Minnesota (1984-85), Notre Dame (1986-96) and South Carolina (1999-2004). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He also coached the New York Jets in 1976.
Holtz is the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games and is the winner of two Bear Bryant Awards and two Eddie Robinson Awards as national coach of the year. After he retired from coaching, he spent time as a college football analyst for CBS Sports and ESPN.
"Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics," his family's statement said. "He is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, and two great‑grandchildren."
After the news of Holtz's death on Wednesday, figures from around the sports world paid tribute to the longtime college football head coach. Here are some of the top social media posts, tributes and more.
MORE: Lou Holtz's most 8 memorable quotes
Lou Holtz tributes
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 4, 2026Head Coach Marcus Freeman’s statement on the passing of Lou Holtz pic.twitter.com/q7WwLVwoSX
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 4, 2026Remembering the life and legacy of Lou Holtz pic.twitter.com/8WiEtVr6fT
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 4, 2026This story is now more than 25 years old and I have told it more times than I can count, but it hits very differently today.
I was anchoring SportsCenter one afternoon and Lou Holtz was on the show. I was quite excited to talk with him, he had been an icon all of my life.
Today's kids don't understand how big of a deal Lou Holtz and Mark May debating at midnight to Rece Davis in judge robes was to my generation. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/uayykIxGtJ
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 4, 2026MORE: Lou Holtz's love for Notre Dame was only eclipsed by his in-game dominance
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