Lou Holtz

Former Great Head Football Coach

Career Highlights: One of football’s all-time greatest coaches, Lou Holtz retired from the game in November 2004 following his sixth season at South Carolina and 33^rd season overall as a head coach…His career is highlighted by 249 victories, a national championship, three national coach of the year honors and 12 bowl game victories…During his time at the University of South Carolina, he led the team to two New Year’s Day Bowl victories, back-to-back top 20 national rankings, and unprecedented national media exposure never before experienced in the program’s history…Holtz became the only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to bowl games and is the only coach to guide four different programs to final top 20 rankings…Prior to South Carolina, he coached at Notre Dame (1986-95) where he led the Irish to the 1988 national championship and a perfect 12-0 record…Holtz was named National Coach of the Year that season…He led the Irish to a 100-30-2 record, including an 87-20-2 mark over his last nine seasons…Not only won the national championship in 1988, but won in the classroom as well with his team posting a 100 percent graduation rate and winning the 1988 CFA Academic Awards…Holtz also rebuilt programs at Minnesota (1984-85), Arkansas (1977-83), North Carolina State (1972-75), and William & Mary (1969-71)…He spent the 1976 season as head coach of the NFL’s New York Jets…Twenty-three of his 32 collegiate teams have earned post-season bowl bids and 18 have finished in the final AP top 25 and eight in the top 10…Has also authored five books including two best-sellers:  “The Fighting Spirit,” that chronicles Notre Dame’s 1988 championship season, and “Winning Every Day,” that focuses on 10 strategies that can assist an individual in achieving personal and professional success…In 2005, Holtz joined ESPN as a college football analyst….Holtz was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Updated: May, 2008
Courtesy NBC