Legendary and much beloved Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz has reportedly entered hospice care.
The 89-year-old former Fighting Irish, Arkansas Razorbacks, and North Carolina State head coach is best known in the college football world for his run in South Bend from 1986 through 1996. That run saw him coach some of the most famous ND players of the modern era, including Tim Brown, Raghib Ismail, "Rocket" Ismail, and Tony Rice. Holtz also got the Irish their last national title in 1988.
"Oh at some point I think we all knew we’d be lucky to hold on to Lou and legends like him much longer," announcer Tim Brando posted about the legendary Notre Dame head coach Thursday night.
Lou Holtz’s Notre Dame football legacy defined a generation of college football
"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. My thoughts are with his family, especially my dear friend (Skip Holtz) his wife Jen and their extended family. His beloved wife Beth awaits. Coach Holtz has always been a National Treasure."
After his coaching days were done, Lou Holtz found a second career as a broadcaster and pundit on ESPN. While his trademark lisp made him an unconventional broadcaster, it also made him even more endearing, and paired with his knowledge of the game and the way he was able to impart his wisdom to viewers, he was immensely popular on the national stage.
The consistently fiery Holtz once again rallied the Notre Dame faithful a few years ago when he got into a feud with Ohio State coach Ryan Day. Holtz claimed that Day's Buckeyes were soft, and the comments clearly got under Day's skin as he called out the former coach after a big win.
The legendary Notre Dame coach was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.