Lou Holtz health update: Read family's statement on legendary coach

February 01, 2026 Administrator
Lou Holtz health update: Read family's statement on legendary coach

A couple of days ago, news emerged that legendaryNotre Dame football coach Lou Holtzhad beenplaced in hospice care. On Saturday, Jan. 31 his family provided an update.

Kevin Holtz, his son, posted an update on the 1988 national champion coach on his Facebook account on Saturday, confirming Lou Holtz is in hospice care.

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<p style=Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, has entered hospice care, according to ABC57 and other reports.
Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for the Fighting Irish from 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.
Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz during the 1988 season at Notre Dame Stadium. Lou Holtz, Head Coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before the NCAA Independent Conference college football game against the University of Purdue Boilermakers on Sept. 24 1988 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind. Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz prior to the 1989 Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium.The Irish defeated the Mountaineers 34-21 to win the National Championship and finish the season undefeated at 12-0. Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz on the sideline against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 18, 1989. Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz walks off the field following a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Nov. 18, 1989 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa. Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz is carried off the field following their victory over Colorado winning the 1989 National Championship at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1990 in Miami. Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz leads his team onto the field during the 1993 season at Notre Dame Stadium. Lou Holtz, head coach of Notre Dame on the sideline on Sept. 4, 1993: . Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz on the field prior to the game against Stanford Cardinal at Foster Field at Stanford Stadium on Oct. 2, 1993. Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish argues with the official during a game against the Northwestern Wildcats on Sept. 3, 1994. Coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches his players during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1995 Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz addresses his team in the locker room post game after playing Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 21, 1995. Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gives some words of encouragement to his quarterback Tom Krug during the Orange Bowl in Miami on Jan. 1, 1996. FSU defeated Notre Dame 31-26. Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is carried off the field by his team after defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 62-0 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. on Nov. 23, 1996. Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish addresses the crowd at the completion of his final home game as Notre Dame head coach on Nov. 23, 1996. Head Coach Lou Holtz of the South Carolina Gamecocks yells at the line judge during the game against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla on Nov. 11, 2000. Head coach Lou Holtz of the South Carolina Gamecocks motions for the team to leave the field prior to the start of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 13, 2003 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. Former head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish has a statue unveiled before the game against the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Former head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish walks out for the coin toss with David Grimes, David Bruton and Maurice Crum prior to playing the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 13, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. ESPN reporter Lou Holtz looks on during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on Jan. 10, 2011 in Glendale, Ariz. Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz speaks during a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun and attended by President Donald Trump at the County War Memorial Coliseum Nov. 5, 2018 in Fort Wayne, Ind. President Donald Trump speaks with the press alongside former American football player and coach Lou Holtz upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport on Oct. 31, 2020. President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to former college football coach Lou Holtz in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. Holtz is best known for his time as head coach of University of Notre Dame's football team, winning a national championship in the 1988 season. Lou Holtz leaves the stage during a rally with former President Donald Trump at the Florence Regional Airport on March 12, 2022 in Florence, S.C. Former North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Lou Holtz is honored along with his 1973 football team during the first half at Carter-Finley Stadium on Oct. 7, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. Former Notre Dame Fighting and Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Lou Holtz holds a press conference prior to the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Follow Lou Holtz's legacy of leadership as a college football coach

Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title, hasentered hospice care, according to ABC57 and other reports.Lou Holtz, 89, was at the helm for theFighting Irishfrom 1986 to 1996, leading the team to a perfect 12-0 season and the national championship in 1988.Notre Dame Lou Holtz is seen during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"The Holtz family, Luanne Altenbaumer, Skip Holtz, Liz Holtz Messaglia, share the difficult news that our father, Coach Lou Holtz, is presently facing a health challenge," Kevin Holtzposted on Facebook. "While this is a challenging time, our focus is on maintaining his comfort, quality of life and care in his Orlando home.

"As family has always been the highest importance to Coach, we are holding to each other and focusing on making every moment and day count. The whole family appreciates your thoughts, prayers, and support but ask for privacy as we navigate this journey. Psalm 41:3.″

Holtz family update:#NotreDamepic.twitter.com/5cYQzmOQIp

— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino)February 1, 2026

Holtz spent 33 seasons as a head coach, posting a 249-132-7 record with stops at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina over his career. He also had a one-year stint in the NFL with the New York Jets.

He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and worked for ESPN as a college football analyst after his retirement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lou Holtz health update: Family releases statement

 

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