Lou Holtz dies: Tributes pour in for legendary Notre Dame coach
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Legendary Notre Dame football coach and ESPN analyst Lou Holtz has died at the age of 89.
Holtz won a national title with Notre Dame in 1988 and coached at other schools like NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina.
The 6 best Lou Holtz quotes from the college football legend
He spent one season in the NFL with the New York Jets in 1976. Even so, his stint in South Bend from 1986-1996 was the most prosperous of his career.
Holtz translated his football career from the sideline to the studio as he provided college football analysis for ESPN from 2005 to 2015. Tributes poured in to one of the towering college football 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.
Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very… https://t.co/dM53csuvJ0
— University of Notre Dame (@NotreDame) March 4, 2026
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, 2026
Lou Holtz was the rare example of an icon to different generations for different reasons.
My dad knew him as the man that returned Notre Dame to the head table. I knew him as the cornerstone of the greatest CFB studio show ever produced.
Rest in peace Coach 🫡 pic.twitter.com/4vp3cwfMhf
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) March 4, 2026
RIP to Lou Holtz! Not only a great coach but a great man! I met Lou in the Pittsburgh Airport coming back to CT in October2011. It was a great conversation and Lou took the time to speak with everyone at the gate. It was a big moment to meet Coach! Go Irish! #1988Champs#NDpic.twitter.com/BHtDN3LDo1
— Bob Rafferty (@Raff1575) March 4, 2026
Marcus Freeman is “deeply saddened” by the passing of Lou Holtz. He said Holtz warmly welcomed him to the Irish family “immediately.”
“Our relationship meant a lot to me as I admired the values he used to build the foundation of his coaching career: love, trust and commitment.” pic.twitter.com/iEAnmfyAwI
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) March 4, 2026
This 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.
He… pic.twitter.com/M3OaeDVd88
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) March 4, 2026
First book I ever chose to read in high school was a Lou Holtz book. No teacher assignment. Just picked it up.
I loved it so much it started a lifelong habit of reading.
Great coach. Even better man.
God bless you, Coach. Rest in paradise. pic.twitter.com/NKMYfLPB82— Josh Bryant (@joshstrength) March 4, 2026
An absolute legend is gone.
I used to love watching Lou Holtz and Mark May go at it on College Football Final with Rece Davis as the judge.
Lou Holtz never held back! pic.twitter.com/ublHZ0I5TY
— Michigan Metal 〽️ (@Metaleka_) March 4, 2026
Lou Holtz will be sorely missed. CFB Postgame Shows haven’t been nearly as good since the days of him screaming at Rece Davis and Mark May:https://t.co/cZuWAf4RS2
— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) March 4, 2026
Rest in peace, Lou Holtz. One of the best football coaches to ever do it. pic.twitter.com/HfcOCFZD3M
— HOMAGE (@HOMAGE) March 4, 2026
We had a Lou Holtz children’s book as kids. My mom wrote to him and he mailed her a copy of a speech he gave on Regis and Kathy Lee for my dad one year for Christmas and we got a Cameo from him for Christmas last year.
For Notre Dame fans of a certain age, he was the GOAT. RIP.
— Conor Orr (@ConorOrr) March 4, 2026
Lou Holtz was a motivator, a teacher, a brilliant football mind and a dynamic personality who brought Arkansas football into the modern era. He orchestrated some of our greatest moments on the gridiron. It was a sad day when he left Arkansas and it’s a sad day today. RIP, Coach. pic.twitter.com/Rlee1t4kFn
— Chris May (@KATVChrisMay) March 4, 2026
Gamecock Nation mourns the passing of former football coach Lou Holtz.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the many lives he impacted throughout his career ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ot0X7Rs4N1
— South Carolina Gamecocks (@GamecocksOnline) March 4, 2026
What sad news.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Lou Holtz dies: Tributes pour in for legendary Notre Dame coach
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