Lou Holtz
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Follansbee, West Virginia, U.S. | January 6, 1937
Playing career | |
1956–1957 | Kent State |
Position(s) | Connecticut (assistant) |
1966–1967 | South Carolina (assistant) |
1968 | Ohio State (assistant) |
1969–1971 | William & Mary |
1972–1975 | NC State |
1976 | New York Jets |
1977–1983 | Arkansas |
1984–1985 | Minnesota |
1986–1996 | Notre Dame |
1999–2004 | South Carolina |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 249–132–7 (college) 3–10 (NFL) |
Bowls | 12–8–2 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 ACC Coach of the Year (1972)SWC Coach of the Year (1979) SEC Coach of the Year (2000)Presidential Medal of Freedom (2020) | |
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2008 (profile) |
Louis Leo Holtz (born January 6, 1937)[1] is an American former football coach and television analyst. He served as the head football coach at the College of William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975), the New York Jets (1976), the University of Arkansas (1977–1983), the University of Minnesota (1984–1985), the University of Notre Dame (1986–1996), and the University of South Carolina (1999–2004), compiling a career college head coaching record of 249–132–7. Holtz's 1988 Notre Dame team went 12–0 with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl and was the consensus national champion. Holtz is the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 15 rankings.
After retiring from coaching, Holtz worked as a TV college football analyst for CBS Sports in the 1990s and ESPN from 2005 until 2015. On May 1, 2008, Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.[2]
Early life and coaching career
Holtz was born in
William & Mary
Holtz's first job as head coach came in 1969, at the College of William & Mary, who played in the Southern Conference at that time. In 1970, he led the William & Mary Indians (now Tribe) to the Southern Conference title and a berth in the Tangerine Bowl.[7]
North Carolina State
In 1972, Holtz moved to North Carolina State University and had a 33–12–3 record in four seasons. His first three teams achieved final Top 20 rankings, including a final Top 10 finish in the 1974 Coaches Poll. His 1973 team won the ACC Championship. His Wolfpack teams played in four bowl games, going 2–1–1.[7] Following the 1975 season, Holtz accepted an offer to leave college football and become the head coach of the NFL's New York Jets.
New York Jets
Holtz's lone foray into the professional ranks began when he was appointed as head coach of the New York Jets on February 10, 1976. He was selected over Johnny Majors, Darryl Rogers, and Marv Levy.[8] Holtz resigned ten months later on December 9 with the Jets at 3–10 and one game remaining in the 1976 season.[6] Upon his departure, he lamented, "God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros."[9]
Arkansas
Holtz went to the
Holtz led Arkansas to a 10–2 record in 1979 and a share of the SWC championship, and a 9-2-1 record in 1982 with a Bluebonnet Bowl victory over Florida. Holtz was then dismissed following a 6–5 campaign in 1983. At the time, athletic director
Minnesota
Holtz accepted the head coaching job at the University of Minnesota before the 1984 season. The Golden Gophers had only won one game vs. Rice in 1983, but under Holtz won 4 games, including 3 in the Big Ten. In 1985 the team was 7-5 and were invited to the Independence Bowl, where they defeated Clemson, 20–13. Holtz did not coach the Gophers in that bowl game, as he had already accepted the head coaching position at Notre Dame.[7] His contract purportedly included a "Notre Dame clause" that allowed him to leave if that coaching job were to become available.[18]
Holtz's tenure at Minnesota was not without controversy. Just prior to the 1991 Orange Bowl, the NCAA implicated the Holtz-era Golden Gophers for recruiting violations. Sanctions handed down in March 1991 included a bowl ban in 1992 for the Golden Gophers and "two more years ... [of] continued probation".[19][20]
Notre Dame
In 1986, Holtz left Minnesota to take over the then-struggling Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program. A taskmaster and strict disciplinarian, Holtz had the names removed from the backs of the players' jerseys when he took over at Notre Dame, wanting to emphasize team effort. With the exception of select bowl games, names have not been included on Notre Dame's jerseys since. Although his 1986 squad posted an identical 5–6 mark that the 1985 edition had, five of their six losses were by a combined total of 14 points.[21] In the season finale against the archrival USC Trojans, Notre Dame overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit and pulled out a 38–37 win.[21]
In his second season, Holtz led the Fighting Irish to an appearance in the
Holtz's 1993 Irish team ended the season with an 11–1 record and ranked second in the final AP poll. Although the Florida State Seminoles were defeated by the Irish in a battle of unbeatens during the regular season and both teams had only 1 loss at season's end (Notre Dame lost to seventeenth-ranked Boston College), FSU was then voted national champion in the final 1993 AP and Coaches Poll. Between 1988 and 1993, Holtz's teams posted an overall 64–9–1 record.[21] He also took the Irish to bowl games for nine consecutive seasons, still a Notre Dame record.[21]
Following an investigation in 1999, the NCAA placed Notre Dame on two years probation for extra benefits provided to football players between 1993 and 1999 by Kim Dunbar, a South Bend bookkeeper involved in a $1.4 million embezzlement scheme at her employer, as well as one instance of academic fraud that occurred under Holtz's successor, Bob Davie. The NCAA found that Holtz and members of his staff learned of the violations but failed to make appropriate inquiry or to take prompt action, finding Holtz's efforts "inadequate."[22][23]
On September 13, 2008, Lou Holtz was invited back to the campus where a statue of the former coach was unveiled. The ceremony took place during the weekend of the Notre Dame/Michigan game, almost twenty-two years to the day after Holtz coached his first Notre Dame team against the Wolverines.
Occasionally, despite his lack of success with the New York Jets, he was rumored to be leaving Notre Dame for the NFL. Following a 6–10 season in 1990 and an 8–8 showing in 1991, the Minnesota Vikings were rumored to replace Jerry Burns with Holtz. However, Holtz denied these rumors each of those two seasons. Holtz remained at Notre Dame; the Vikings, meanwhile, hired Dennis Green to replace the retired Jerry Burns.[24][25]
First retirement
Lou Holtz left Notre Dame after the 1996 season. In 1996, two members of the
South Carolina
After two seasons as a commentator for CBS Sports, Holtz came out of retirement in 1999 and returned to the University of South Carolina, where he had been an assistant in the 1960s. The year before Holtz arrived, the Gamecocks went 1–10, and the team subsequently went 0–11 during Holtz's first season. In his second season, South Carolina went 8–4, winning the Outback Bowl over the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes. The eight-game improvement from the previous year was the best in the nation in 2000 and the third best single-season turnaround in NCAA history.[28] It also earned National Coach of the Year honors for Holtz from Football News and American Football Coaches Quarterly. In his third season, Holtz's success continued, leading the Gamecocks to a 9–3 record and another Outback Bowl victory over Ohio State. The nine wins for the season were the second highest total in the history of the program. Under Holtz's leadership, the Gamecocks posted their best two-year mark in school history from 2000 to 2001, going 17–7 overall and 10–6 in SEC play.[7]
After consecutive 5–7 campaigns in 2002 and 2003, Holtz finished his South Carolina tenure on a winning note with a 6–5 record in 2004. Holtz's time in Columbia saw the resurrection of Gamecock Football, as the program had only one bowl win and no Top 25 finishes in the ten years before his hire. Upon his exit, USC had posted AP Top 25 finishes in 2000 and 2001 (#19 and No. 13 respectively) and had made consecutive New Year's Day bowls for the first time in its history. Holtz finished his six-year tenure at South Carolina with a 2–4 record versus his former team, Arkansas, beating the Razorbacks in Columbia, SC in 2000 and 2004.
In 2005, the NCAA imposed three years probation and reductions in two scholarships on the program for ten admitted violations under Holtz, five of which were found to be major. The violations involved improper tutoring and off-season workouts, as well as a lack of institutional control. No games were forfeited, and no television or postseason ban was imposed. Holtz issued a statement after the sanctions were announced stating, "There was no money involved. No athletes were paid. There were no recruiting inducements. No cars. No jobs offered. No ticket scandal.".[29][30]
Second retirement
On November 18, 2004, Holtz announced that he would retire at the end of the season. On November 20, 2004, the
Books
Holtz has written or contributed to 10 books:
- Holtz, Lou (1974). The Grass Is Greener. [The author]. OCLC 41773996.
- Holtz, Lou; Dugan, Donald (1978). Holtz' Quotes. [s.l: s.n.] OCLC 4468721.
- Holtz, Lou (1978). The Offensive Side of Lou Holtz. [s.l: s.n.] OCLC 4851306.
- Holtz, Lou (1980). The Kitchen Quarterback. Little Rock, Arkansas: Parkin Prtng. Co. OCLC 6714133.
- Holtz, Lou; Heisler, John (1989). The Fighting Spirit: A Championship Season at Notre Dame. New York: Pocket Books. OCLC 20180739.
- Holtz, Lou (1998). Winning Every Day: The Game Plan for Success. New York: HarperBusiness. OCLC 39451210.
- Holtz, Lou; Carpenter, Monte (2002). Quotable Lou: The Wit, Wisdom, and Inspiration of Lou Holtz, College Football's Most Colorful and Engaging Coach. Nashville, Tenn: TowleHouse Pub. OCLC 49942729.
- Holtz, Lou (2002). A Teen's Game Plan for Life. Notre Dame, Ind: Sorin Books. OCLC 49519284.
- OCLC 71325993.
- Holtz, Lou (2006). Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography. New York: Wm. Morrow. OCLC 65165505.
- Holtz, Lou (2019). Three Rules for Living a Good Life: A Game Plan for After Graduation. Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press. ISBN 978-1-59471-906-6.
Broadcasting career
Holtz has worked for
Personal life
Holtz was married to Beth Barcus from July 22, 1961, until her death from cancer on June 30, 2020.[36] Holtz currently resides in Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. He and Beth had four children, three of whom are Notre Dame graduates. His children include head coach Skip Holtz. His cousins Ashton and Kerosene Holtz both played football in Fort Scott, Kansas, as a linebacker and defensive end. Holtz is on the Catholic Advisory Board of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, and gives motivational speeches. Coach Holtz is a member at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. On June 23, 2015, Holtz's Lake Nona home was damaged by a house fire that was most likely triggered by a lightning strike.
Political views
Holtz has long been active in
On August 26, 2020, Holtz spoke at the Republican National Convention endorsing Donald Trump for re-election. During his address at the 2020 Republican National Convention, Holtz said that Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden was "a Catholic in name only."[43] The University of Notre Dame also released a statement the following day to distance itself from Holtz's comment regarding Biden.[44]
Holtz has been vocal about his disapproval of
Popular culture
Holtz appeared as himself in a Discover Card commercial in November 2011.[46] A 1994 episode of Coach had the protagonist Hayden Fox covertly traveling to a nation under sanction from the United States in an attempt to sign a native who is an incredible place kicker, only to find Lou Holtz has beaten him to the punch, signing the kicker for Notre Dame.
Honors
In 1990, Holtz received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[47] Holtz was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame on May 22, 2011.[48] On April 19, 2012, Holtz was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.[49] Holtz was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Education from the University of South Carolina on December 17, 2012. Holtz was awarded an honorary Doctor in Public Service from Trine University and elected to the board of trustees in 2011.[50] Trine also honored Holtz in 2013 by naming a program the Lou Holtz Master of Science in Leadership Program.[51] He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate in Communications from Franciscan University of Steubenville on May 9, 2015, and delivered a commencement address.[52] Holtz was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, and the Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame in 1998. On December 3, 2020, Holtz was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.[53]
Head coaching record
College
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William & Mary Indians (Southern Conference) (1969–1971) | |||||||||
1969 | William & Mary | 3–7 | 2–2 | 4th | |||||
1970 | William & Mary | 5–7 | 3–1 | 1st | L Tangerine | ||||
1971 | William & Mary | 5–6 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
William & Mary: | 13–20 | 9–4 | |||||||
NC State Wolfpack (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1972–1975) | |||||||||
1972 | NC State | 8–3–1 | 4–1–1 | 2nd | W Peach | 17 | |||
1973 | NC State | 9–3 | 6–0 | 1st | W Liberty | 16 | |||
1974 | NC State | 9–2–1 | 4–2 | 2nd | T Astro-Bluebonnet | 9 | 11 | ||
1975 | NC State | 7–4–1 | 2–2–1 | 4th | L Peach | ||||
NC State: | 33–12–3 | 16–5–2 | |||||||
Arkansas Razorbacks (Southwest Conference) (1977–1983) | |||||||||
1977 | Arkansas | 11–1 | 7–1 | 2nd | W Orange | 3 | 3 | ||
1978 | Arkansas | 9–2–1 | 6–2 | 2nd | T Fiesta | 10 | 11 | ||
1979 | Arkansas | 10–2 | 7–1 | T–1st | L Sugar | 9 | 8 | ||
1980 | Arkansas | 7–5 | 3–5 | 6th | W Hall of Fame Classic | ||||
1981 | Arkansas | 8–4 | 5–3 | 4th | L Gator | 16 | |||
1982 | Arkansas | 9–2–1 | 5–2–1 | 3rd | W Astro-Bluebonnet | 8 | 9 | ||
1983 | Arkansas | 6–5 | 4–4 | 5th | |||||
Arkansas: | 60–21–2 | 37–18–1 | |||||||
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten Conference) (1984–1985) | |||||||||
1984 | Minnesota | 4–7 | 3–6 | 8th | |||||
1985 | Minnesota | 6–5 | 4–4 | 6th | Independence[n 1] | ||||
Minnesota: | 10–12 | 7–10 | |||||||
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent) (1986–1996) | |||||||||
1986 | Notre Dame | 5–6 | |||||||
1987 | Notre Dame | 8–4 | L Cotton | 17 | |||||
1988 | Notre Dame | 12–0 | W Fiesta | 1 | 1 | ||||
1989 | Notre Dame | 12–1 | W Orange | 3 | 2 | ||||
1990 | Notre Dame | 9–3 | L Orange | 6 | 6 | ||||
1991 | Notre Dame | 10–3 | W Sugar | 12 | 13 | ||||
1992 | Notre Dame | 10–1–1 | W Cotton† | 4 | 4 | ||||
1993 | Notre Dame | 11–1 | W Cotton† | 2 | 2 | ||||
1994 | Notre Dame | 6–5–1 | L Fiesta† | ||||||
1995 | Notre Dame | 9–3 | L Orange† | 13 | 11 | ||||
1996 | Notre Dame | 8–3 | 21 | 19 | |||||
Notre Dame: | 100–30–2 | ||||||||
South Carolina Gamecocks (Southeastern Conference) (1999–2004) | |||||||||
1999 | South Carolina | 0–11 | 0–8 | 6th (Eastern) | |||||
2000 | South Carolina | 8–4 | 5–3 | 2nd (Eastern) | W Outback | 21 | 19 | ||
2001 | South Carolina | 9–3 | 5–3 | 3rd (Eastern) | W Outback | 13 | 13 | ||
2002 | South Carolina | 5–7 | 3–5 | 4th (Eastern) | |||||
2003 | South Carolina | 5–7 | 2–6 | 4th (Eastern) | |||||
2004 | South Carolina | 6–5 | 4–4 | 3rd (Eastern) | |||||
South Carolina: | 33–37 | 19–29 | |||||||
Total: | 249–132–7 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
NFL
Team | Year | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
NYJ | 1976 | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | 4th in AFC East | – | – | – | – |
Total | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | – | – | – | |||
Overall Total | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | NFL Championships (0) |
See also
- List of college football coaches with 200 wins
- List of National Football League head coaches
Notes
- ^ Holtz left Minnesota for Notre Dame before the Independence Bowl, which was coached by John Gutekunst.
References
- ^ "UPI Almanac for Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019". United Press International. January 6, 2019. Archived from the original on September 11, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
U.S. football coach/broadcaster Lou Holtz in 1937 (age 82)
- ^ "Aikman, Cannon, Holtz head for College Football Hall of Fame". May 1, 2008. Archived from the original on May 4, 2008.
- ISBN 978-0345523150.
- ISBN 978-1250024831.
- ISBN 978-1557284297.
- ^ a b "Biography: Lou Holtz". real-life-training-films.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
- ^ CSTV. Archived from the originalon December 8, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
- ^ "Jets Eye Lou Holtz as Coach". The Evening News. Beacon, New York: Associated Press. February 10, 1976. p. 9.
- ^ Eskenazi, Gerald (November 24, 1996). "New York Jets Go Rolling Along". The New York Times.
- ^ "Biography – Lou Holtz". hickoksports.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
- ^ Kindred, Dave (January 2, 1979). "Eerie Feeling Engulfs The Visitors". Toledo Blade. p. 25.
- ^ "Bruce Credentials Right for Buckeyes". Toledo Blade. The Associated Press\. January 14, 1979. p. D3.
- ^ "Tired, burnt-out Holtz quits as Arkansas coach". The Sporstman-Review. Spokane, WA: The Associated Press. December 19, 1983. p. 21.
- ^ Pils, Douglas (May 7, 2004). "Broyles gives his side of Richardson firing". USA Today. Associated Press.
- ^ "Holtz will bring his wisdom to Syracuse: Former coach speaks about his football experience", Syracuse Post-Standard (October 22, 2006)
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; No Politics for Holtz". The New York Times. May 7, 2004. p. 18.
- ^ Trex, Ethan (July 17, 2009). "5 Things You Didn't Know About Lou Holtz". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ Nadel, Mike (November 27, 1985). "Is Lou Holtz next for Notre Dame?". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, FL: Associated Press. p. 1C.
- ^ "Minnesota Admits NCAA Rules Broken Under Holtz". Loss Angeles Times. January 4, 1991.
- ^ Sherman, Ed (February 28, 1991). "Minnesota, Holtz Dodge Grave Sanctions". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b c d e f "2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: History and Records (pages 131–175)". und.cstv.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ "Tarnished dome, Notre Dame placed on 2 years' probation by NCAA". CNN/Sports Illustrated. December 17, 1999. Archived from the original on November 21, 2001.
- ^ "Major Infractions Case" (University of Notre Dame). Legislative Services Database. National Collegiate Athletic Association. December 17, 1999.
- ^ Brooks, B.G. (December 1, 1990). "Holtz says Notre Dame as Worthy of No. 1 As Any If It Tops Colorado". Deseret News. Scripps Howard News Service.
- ^ "Vikings' Official Wants Holtz". Chicago Tribune. November 20, 1991.
- ^ Lesko, Ron (November 19, 1996). "Vikings' owners divided on Holtz". SouthCoast Today. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008.
- Arizona Republic.[dead link]
- ^ NCAA football records, p. 68.
- ^ "Gamecocks admit 5 major infractions under Holtz". ESPN. July 13, 2005. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016.
- ^ "Three years of probation for South Carolina". USA Today. August 24, 2005. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c Thamel, Pete (November 23, 2004). "Holtz Goes; Brawlers Won't Play On in Bowls". The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
- ^ Ziller, Tom (October 18, 2008). "Dr. Lou Holtz Drops a Hitler Reference, Continues to Make No Sense". Sporting News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ Daulerio, A.J. (October 17, 2008). "Lou Holtz Might Be Taking Some Time Off". Deadspin.com. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ Weiss, Dick (October 18, 2008). "Lou Holtz sorry for Hitler line". Daily News. New York. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
- ^ Sandritter, Mark (April 12, 2015). "Lou Holtz leaves ESPN on 'mutual agreement'". SB Nation. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- ^ Hansen, Eric. "Beth Holtz, wife of Notre Dame football icon Lou Holtz, leaves behind powerful legacy". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ Ayers Jr., B Drummond (June 18, 1999). "Political briefing: Funny things happen to Quayle in Dixie". The New York Times.
- ^ Hulse, Carl (January 27, 2007). "At lawmakers' retreat, pep talks address concerns of the new G.O.P. minority". The New York Times.
- ^ "Holtz considering run for Congress". ESPN. Associated Press. August 4, 2009.
- ^ "Lou Holtz, Notre Dame ex-coach, considers running for Congress, GOP sources say". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- AL.com. August 3, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
- ^ "Lou Holtz Praises Judge Amy Barrett's Nomination". YouTube. October 8, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ "Here's the speaker lineup for the third night of the Republican National Convention". CNBC. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ Bromberg, Nick (August 27, 2020). "Notre Dame disassociates itself from Lou Holtz's RNC comments questioning Joe Biden's Catholic faith". Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Robinson, Brandon (November 15, 2017). "Lou Holtz says Colin Kaepernick shouldn't have taken knee, compares its human interest to O.J. Simpson". RESPECT Magazine. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ "Peggy – Customer Service – Lou Holtz". Discoverpeggy.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "Honorary Degrees". University of Notre Dame. 2011. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame Class of 2012". AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. April 19, 2012. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013.
- ^ "Legendary coach Lou Holtz joins Trine's board". Thunderbolt. Trine University. Archived from the original (Trustee News, Aug-Sep 2011) on July 29, 2014.
- ^ "Lou Holtz lends name to new program". Trine University News. 2013.
- ^ "Commencement Exercises 2015". Franciscan University of Steubenville. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- National Archives.
- ^ "Lou Holtz Records By Year". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.