Legendary Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz’s health has taken a turn for the worse.
The 89-year-old coach is reportedly in failing health. Though the exact details of his condition were not immediately available, a report from a South Bend news station indicated that the college football legend was entering end-of-life care.
Source Close to Lou Holtz Family Confirms Sad News
ABC57 News reported on Thursday that Holtz had entered hospice care.
“A source close to the family confirmed with ABC57 that Notre Dame legend, Lou Holtz, has reportedly entered into hospice care at the age of 89,” the report noted.
Arkansas Razorbacks reporter Kyle Sutherland shared the same news.
“I have confirmed College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz is in hospice care,” Sutherland wrote in a post on X. “Holtz was the head coach at #Arkansas from 1977-83 where he compiled a 60-21-2 record and won 3 bowl games, including the famed upset over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.”
Holtz had several stops across his college coaching career, but was best known for his time at Notre Dame that included a national title and a perfect 12-0 record in the 1988 season. Holtz ended his career at Notre Dame with 100 wins, which at the time was second all-time to Knute Rockne.
Nick Shepkowski of SI.com noted that Holtz had a deep affinity for the university long before he became their head coach.
“Holtz would share stories about marching out of his elementary school to the ‘Notre Dame Victory March’ when he’d join his classmates for recess. He long had the dream of becoming the head coach at Notre Dame but it may not have been until after he left following the 1996 season that we really began to understand just how much the University meant to Holtz.
As On3 noted, Holtz went into broadcasting after leaving Notre Dame, but had an unexpected second act to his college coaching career.
“After the 1996 season, Lou Holtz announced his first retirement and venture into TV as an analyst for CBS Sports,” the report noted. “But he returned to the sidelines in 1999 in his second stint at South Carolina as head coach and inherited a 1-10 program upon his arrival. The Gamecocks went 0-11 in his first season, but turned around to go 8-4 in 2000. On the whole, Holtz had a 33-37 overall record in Columbia.”
Prayers Pouring in for Lou Holtz
After news that Holtz was heading into hospice care, many fans and figures in the college football world shared prayers for the legendary coach and his family. Many noted the impact he had on college sports, broadcasting, and his deep Christian faith.
Commentator Tim Brando of Fox Sports took to X to share a heartfelt message about the impact Holtz had on his life.
“Oh at some point I think we all knew we’d be lucky to hold on to Lou and legends like him much longer,” Brando wrote. “So many we’ve looked up to and many I had the honor and privilege of not only covering, but working alongside eventually head to their next life of eternal glory.”
Brando also had a message for Holtz’s family.
“My thoughts are with his family, especially my dear friend @SkipHoltz his wife Jen and their extended family,” he wrote. “His beloved wife Beth awaits. Coach Holtz has always been a National Treasure.”
Devastating News Emerges on Legendary Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz