Who was Lou Holtz? Hall of Fame coach dead at 89

Lou Holtz, who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship, died March 4 at age 89.

A College Football Hall of Fame coach, Holtz's three-decade-plus career included coaching stints at six colleges and multiple award wins. However, he was best known for his coaching at University of Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish football team to its last national title in 1988.

The University of Notre Dame announced the death in a March 4 news release, calling Holtz "one of the most affable coaches of his generation."

“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” Notre Dame President the Rev. Robert A. Dowd said in the release.

Here's what to know about Lou Holtz.

When did Lou Holtz die?

Holtz died March 4 at age 89, USA TODAY reported.

"Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime… Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed," Dowd's statement said.

Who was Lou Holtz?

Born Louis Leo Holtz in Follansbee, West Virginia, he was an award-winning college football coach, known for leading Notre Dame to win the 1988 National Championship, its last national title, in 1988, according to Notre Dame Athletics and USA TODAY.

In 1988, the Fighting Irish defeated Michigan 19-17 in the season opener and followed up with a 20-3 win over Michigan State University. Over his tenure at Notre Dame, Holtz's teams were 5-3-1 against Michigan and 8-1 against Michigan State.

Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and his over three-decade coaching career spanned six colleges, from 1969 until his retirement in 2004.

As a college coach, Holtz worked at William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He also coached the New York Jets for one season in 1976, according to Football Reference.

Who are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are the football team of the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic university near South Bend, Indiana.

USA TODAY contributed.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Who is Lou Holtz? Notre Dame coach dead at 89