National College Football Champion Coach Lou Holtz Dies at 89 in Orlando

one of college football’s most legendary figures

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Louis Leo “Lou” Holtz, a national championship-winning college football coach and National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Famer member who devoted more than five decades to college coaching and broadcasting, died on March 4, 2026, at age 89.

Holtz passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Orlando, Florida. A devoted husband, father, faithful Catholic and one of college football’s most legendary figures, he leaves behind a legacy defined by faith, family, perseverance and an unwavering belief in the potential of others.

Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, as one of three children to Andrew and Anne Holtz, Holtz grew up in a working-class family that instilled in him a relentless work ethic and an abiding sense of gratitude from an early age.

Holtz married his East Liverpool hometown love and best friend, Beth Barcus, on July 22, 1961. Their loving, faith filled marriage endured more than five decades until Beth’s passing in 2020, and those who knew them will remember Lou and Beth as inseparable partners through both life’s joys and challenges.

He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Luanne Altenbaumer (Terry) of Houston, Texas, their daughter Lindsay Altenbaumer (Raul Ganzalez) and their children Amelia and R.J; Louis Leo “Skip” Holtz (Jennifer) of Six Mile, South Carolina, their children Louis Leo “Trey” (Rachel), Chad and Hailey; Kevin Holtz (Kelly) of Port Orange, Florida, their children Katherine and Aaron; Liz Messaglia (Mike) of Brownsburg, Indiana, and their children Zachary (Nicole), Beth and Jacob. In addition to his wife and parents, Holtz was preceded in death by his sisters Vicki Haggerty and Shirley Youst.

After earning his undergraduate degree in history from Kent State University, where he played football for two seasons, a football injury led him to assist the coaching staff and later complete his master’s degree at the University of Iowa, laying the foundation for a life devoted to teaching, coaching, and inspiring others.

Commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve upon graduation, he carried that commitment forward throughout his life, supporting the military through multiple USO tours and uplifting deployed service members in places such as Camp Liberty in Baghdad and Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

Holtz began his football coaching career in 1960 and spent time as an assistant coach at Iowa, William & Mary, Connecticut, South Carolina and Ohio State (under Hall of Famer Woody Hayes), winning the National Championship in 1968.

He went on to excel by building programs as head coach at William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), Minnesota (1984-85), Notre Dame (1986-96) and South Carolina (1999-2004). He finished with a career collegiate record of 249-132-7 and won a dozen postseason bowl games. At each stop, he inherited a program with a losing record and transformed it into a winner, taking every team to a bowl game by his second season and ultimately capturing the 1988 National Championship with the Fighting Irish. His extraordinary ability to revive struggling teams made him the only coach in college football history to send six different programs to bowl games and to guide four of them to final Top 15 rankings.

His love of golf began at William & Mary, where coaching the golf team to supplement his football salary sparked a lifelong passion for the game. He later treasured his memberships at Lake Nona and Augusta National, forming lasting friendships on their fairways, celebrating six holes in one, and cherishing the highlight of winning the Jamboree at Augusta.

Holtz lived by the values of trust, love and commitment. He taught three essential rules: do what is right, do it to the best of your ability, and show people you care. These principles not only shaped the teams he built, but more importantly, they shaped character, instilled purpose, and helped young men become the best versions of themselves, on the field and in life.

Lou Holtz received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Trump during a White House ceremony on December 3, 2020, recognizing his extraordinary impact as one of America’s greatest football coaches and a lifelong teacher of character and leadership.

Beyond the gridiron, he became a trusted analyst for CBS and ESPN, a New York Times bestselling author and one of America’s most sought-after motivational speakers. Known for his quick-wit and charm, he turned every podium into an opportunity to inspire others to believe in themselves. His wit, wisdom and warmth reached far beyond football.

Through the Holtz Charitable Foundation, he and Beth supported countless educational and community initiatives, continuing to shape lives long after his final game. Holtz’s Heroes Foundation, organized by his former Notre Dame players, supports scholarships at Notre Dame, former players and the Bread of Life Food Drive.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 7 to 10 pm at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 1:00 pm, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart with burial to follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, Indiana.

Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed HERE.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to: Holtz Charitable Foundation, Inc., Attn: Treasurer: 791 Pheasant Run Court, Port Orange, FL 32127 or at www.holtzfoundation.org

Holtz’s Heroes Foundation, Inc., Attn: Brian Baker: 9630 Claymount Lane Fishers, Indiana 46037 or at www.holtzsheroes.org.

The Dawson Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

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