Former South Carolina college football coach Lou Holtz dies at 89
By Zach Rainey
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COLUMBIA, South Carolina (WYFF) — The former head coach at the University of South Carolina, Lou Holtz, has died at 89. His death was announced by Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Holtz led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to their last national championship in 1988.
“Over a remarkable five‑decade career, he led college programs at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina,” his family said in a statement. “He transformed every team he inherited.”
In 33 seasons on the college sidelines, Holtz went 249-132-7, spending most of his career in the South Bend. During his tenure at Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996, the Fighting Irish were 100-30-2.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz,” current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman stated.
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Following his time at Notre Dame, Holtz was head coach at USC, where the Gamecocks went 33-37. In his first season in 1999, the Gamecocks went winless 0-11. Following his debut season, Holtz turned the program around to secure back-to-back wins in the Outback Bowl during the 2000 (8-4) and 2001 (9-3) seasons.
Holtz retired from coaching after the 2004 season in Columbia and later became a TV analyst for ESPN from 2005 to 2015.
Holtz won two Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, an honor for NCAA college football’s national coach of the year. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump in 2020.
Holtz entered hospice care in January after his birthday.
“Coach Lou Holtz helped restore pride in Gamecock football and inspired a generation of players across our state,” South Carolina Attorney General said in a statement. “His leadership on and off the field left a lasting mark on South Carolina.”
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) also made a statement regarding the passing of Coach Holtz:
“A giant tree has fallen with the passing of my good friend, Lou Holtz.
“There will be plenty of time to talk about his amazing wife, family, and accomplishments. As to this moment, I deeply believe that Lou Holtz is now in the hands of a loving God, and his pain is over.
“To his family, fans and friends – who number in the thousands – as we mourn, let us dedicate ourselves to celebrating a life well-lived.
“May God provide comfort to his family and friends.”
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