Lou Holtz’s Son Shares Sad News on Notre Dame Legend

Former Notre Dame college football coach Lou Holtz is considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Now, Holtz, 89, has entered hospice care, and his son, Skip Holtz, is sharing a person update on how his father is doing.

The news of Holtz entering hospice surfaced on Thursday, January 29, with HawgBeat’s Kyle Sutherland initially reporting that Holtz has entered hospice care.

“I have confirmed College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz is in hospice care,” Sutherland shared 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 three bowl games, including the famed upset over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.”

Other reports were quick to follow, including one from ABC57, which stated, ” 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.”

ABC57 added, “Holtz held the position of head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1986 to 1996 where he led the Irish to a perfect 12-0 season in 1988 with a National Championship and a Fiesta Bowl victory in 1989.”

Now, Skip is breaking his silence about his father’s heath and sharing a personal update. In a post on X shared on Sunday, February 1, Skip confirms that his father is in hospice and asks for prayers. While it’s sad to hear that the reports of Lou Holtz being in hospice are accurate, Skip’s message is also a hopefully one, and he says that his father is still fighting for his health.

The news also comes after there were false reports of Lou Holtz passing away on Saturday, January 31.

“Appreciate everyone’s text and prayers,” Skip stated on X. “Dad is 89 and he is STILL fighting the fight! Only the man upstairs knows how much time is left on the clock. Cherishing the time we still have together in Orlando.”

Followers were quick to respond with their well wishes. “Continued prayers for our favorite coach,” one said. “Sending prayers to coach, you and the family,” another added.

“May God bless him for as long as he stays with us… and surely when he takes him home. The world was better that he lived among us,” one more said.

Lou Holtz and His Legacy

Holtz served as head coach of Notre Dame from 1986 through 1996, but he also coached multiple college teams during his time in the sport. He’s the only coach in college football history to take six different teams to a bowl game, win five bowl games with different teams and have four different college teams ranked in the final top 20, according to research from Sports Reference.

Holtz officially retired from coaching in 2004 season at South Carolina. With Notre Dame, he coached the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and College Football Hall of Famers Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, Michael Stonebreaker, Aaron Taylor and Chris Zorich.

Holtz that the coach was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and “instituted several traditions at Notre Dame that carry on to this very day,” according to his bio on the official Notre Dame website.

Our prayers and thoughts are with Holtz and his family during this emotional time.