Legendary former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz died Wednesday, March 4, at 89 years old. The program he led to the 1988 national championship posted a tribute to the College Football Hall of Famer shortly after.
“Lou Holtz was more than a football coach,” the narrator said to start the video. “He was a leader, a motivator and a symbol of Notre Dame excellence.”
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REQUIRED READING: Lou Holtz was more teacher than coach, spreading his gospel everywhere
Holtz, who became a famed college football analyst after his coaching career was over, was most known for his 11-year stint with Notre Dame, although he also was head coach at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina.
Holtz led the Fighting Irish to a 100-30-2 record during his stint, with four top-five finishes and five top-tier bowl wins. He led Notre Dame’s revival as a power program after five years of mediocre seasons under Gerry Faust from 1981-85.
“Coach Holtz, he was the father of all of us,” former Notre Dame tight end Irv Smith Sr. said in the tribute video. “… I tell people all the time, ‘we’d fight you for Lou.'”
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Holtz and Notre Dame defeated No. 1 Miami in the 1988 game known as “Catholics vs. Convicts.” The Fighting Irish won 31-30 to end the Hurricanes’ 36-game regular season winning streak. Holtz was also the head coach of the New York Jets in 1976, accumulating a 3-10 record in his lone NFL season.
“He taught us that football was more than just wins and losses,” the narrator said in the tribute. “It was about character.”
Current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman also shared a statement March 4 regarding Holtz and his impact at the school.
“Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the football field,” Freeman said. “He and his wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carrying out Notre Dame’s mission of being a force for good.”
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Holtz will always be remembered for his success at Notre Dame, a school synonymous with his triumphs on the field.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Notre Dame mourns Lou Holtz in tribute video: ‘He was the father of all of us’
