Coach Lou Holtz
Former Coach, Author, Speaker, & Leader — Lou's Lads, Holtz Charitable Foundation Inc.
Louis Leo Holtz (born January 6, 1937) is a former American football player, coach, and 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 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 20 rankings.
Over the years, the slender, bespectacled Holtz has become known for his quick wit and ability to inspire players. He is often found as a guest on the popular Richmond, Virginia based Kain Road Radio. In 2005, Holtz joined ESPN as a college football analyst. On May 1, 2008, Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Holtz speaks to various companies and student athletes annually. Holtz is an inspiration for Andy Albright, President and CEO of National Agents Alliance and spoke about leadership at their 2008 National Convention.[29] Holtz also spoke at the 2011 USF Football Kickoff Dinner in early August 2011.
Holtz has long been active in Republican Party politics, including his support for Helms, hosting former Vice President Dan Quayle in a 1999 fundraising tour,[35] speaking at a 2007 House Republicans strategy meeting[36] and considering entering the Republican primary for a Congressional seat in Florida in 2009.[37] However, he also made a large contribution to the campaign of Democratic Party Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2008.[38] He often appears on Hannity on the Fox News Channel. In 2016, Holtz endorsed Donald Trump for president.[39] Holtz appeared as himself in a Discover Card commercial in November 2011.
Holtz married Beth Barcus on July 22, 1961 and currently resides in Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. They are parents of four children, three of whom are Notre Dame graduates. Their eldest son, Skip, is the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University. 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.