Legendary Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz might be remembered for his greatness on the field, but his enduring Catholic faith led him to be a positive and enduring force shaping Notre Dame football and its reputation for years to come.
Holtz died March 4 at age 89. The 1988 national championship winner began his tenure in 1986 for Notre Dame to help resurrect a struggling Irish team. In addition to giving ten years, 100 wins, five New Year’s Day bowl victories, an undefeated 12-0 season and a national championship, Holtz left his mark with his visible Catholic faith and commitment to cultivating virtuous men on the football field.
Holtz’s early life was formed by the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Aloysius Grade School in East Liverpool, Ohio. Holtz once told the National Catholic Register that the nuns and early education “influenced my life tremendously. This was due to the fact that they encouraged you always to make sure that God is the focus of your life, and they didn’t allow you to do anything except to the very best of your ability.”
Holtz told the Register that he prayed to God to be a great athlete, only to have been made a coach instead. Holtz’s weekly attendance and trust in the Church on religious principles helped “bring meaning and lasting happiness to life.”
Holtz took on his position at Notre Dame after various stops along the way, including William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas and Minnesota. The opportunity at Notre Dame was not only a larger one in the public eye, but inherently had faith tied into football on the field as a world-renowned Catholic university. Holtz immediately embraced the rich football and Catholic tradition, publicly sharing his faith, re-instating a mandatory Mass attendance prior to games and prioritizing moral messaging to players. His teams began to take the virtues of fortitude, prudence and temperance onto the football field and quickly translated to success for the Irish. Holtz leaned into the distinctiveness of Notre Dame as a truly Catholic and faithful university, which reflected and shared the faith on a national stage. He helped reassert that the football program wasn’t separate from the University’s religious mission — it was part of it.
Holtz posted the famous “Play Like a Champion Today” sign in 1986 hoping to inspire players as they entered the field. After spotting the sign in a college football book, he felt that it “was appropriate for Notre Dame” and brought it along with the team for road games to encourage players and remind them of the sacrifices it took to get to their position. These actions helped make a lasting impact and shape the modern landscape of Notre Dame football that fans across the world recognize today.
Holtz’s time at Notre Dame is certainly remembered for his undefeated national championship season in 1988. However, he is also remembered as a legend for his unforgettable pregame speeches and instillment of virtue in his players. He shared that he wanted “Good people who happen to be good football players” for Notre Dame football. His messaging for speeches was often focused on integrity in the players, respect, self-control and academic excellence, aligning directly with the pillars of Notre Dame. Holtz made Notre Dame’s Catholicism visible on a national stage and reinforced its intimate ties with football.
Lou Holtz retired from Notre Dame in 1996 for a few years before picking up his final job at South Carolina for six seasons. Holtz began to appear in commentary roles for ESPN and other televised programs, bringing his witty sense of humor and passion for the game to every broadcast. In 2020, Holtz earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump as the White House described him as “one of the greatest football coaches of all time” and a “philanthropist, author and true American patriot.”
Lou Holtz “is remembered for his enduring values of faith, family, service and unwavering belief in the potential of others,” his family said. They posted a statement sharing a Mass of Christian Burial at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame to be announced as details are finalized. As the University of Notre Dame and nation remembers Lou Holtz for his football excellence and transformation of collegiate programs, it is important not to forget the ways he impacted players and communities beyond the game through his Catholic faith.
