College football legend and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz has entered hospice, a family source told ABC57 in Indiana.
The 89-year-old is best known for his time coaching Notre Dame from 1986-96, which included a national title, plus his role as a college football analyst for ESPN.
Holtz also coached the Jets for 13 games in the 1967 season, and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Fox Sports announcer Tim Brando posted a positive message on X based off a Notre Dame reporter’s tweet stating Holtz had entered hospice.
“Oh at some point I think we all knew we’d be lucky to hold on to Lou and legends like him much longer. So many we’ve looked up to and many I had the honor and privilege of not only covering, but working alongside eventually head to their next life of eternal glory,” Brando wrote.
“✝️🙏🙏My thoughts are with his family, especially my dear friend @SkipHoltz his wife Jen and their extended family. His beloved wife Beth awaits. 💜Coach Holtz has always been a National Treasure. 🏈”
Holtz is one of college football’s most well-known personalities, having spent almost all of his career coaching at a top level.
He played for Kent State before becoming an assistant coach in 1960, and finally landed his first head coaching opportunity in 1969 with William & Mary.
Holtz eventually left for NC State and spent four seasons in Raleigh before attempting an NFL run that did not pan out, with the Jets going 3-10 before he re-signed.
“Lou Holtz is not made for professional football,” Holtz said at the time.
The NFL failure did not prevent him returning to college, with Holtz landing with Arkansas in 1977 for a seven-year stint before a two-year run with Minnesota.
He finally landed in South Bend, Ind. in 1986 and guided Notre Dame for 11 years, posting a 100-30-2 record and winning the national title in 1988, which remains the Fighting Irish’s last championship.
Holtz left Notre Dame after the 1996 season and spent time as a commentator before one final ill-fated run with South Carolina that ended in 2004.
He went 249-132-7 in his coaching career, along with 12-8-2 in bowl games.
Holtz transitioned back to a media role, spending time with CBS and ESPN before exiting the Worldwide Leader in 2015.