Saturday, 21 December 2024

Lou Holtz

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Football
Statistics: 1 National Championship (1988)
1 SoCon Championship (1970)
1 ACC Championship (1973)
1 SWC Championship (1979)
3 Walter Camp Coach of the Year (1977)
1 ACC Coach of the Year Award (1972)
1 SEC Coach of the Year Award (2000)
249-132-7 NCAA Record
7-9-1 Bowl Record
3-10 NFL Record
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
Lou Holtz’s first head coaching job was in 1969 when he was hired at the College of William & Mary. He did well, bringing his squad to the Tangerine Bowl, and Holtz then moved to North Carolina State, winning the ACC Championship in 1973. Staying with the Wolfpack for four seasons, Holtz never missed going to a bowl game, winning two (Peach 1972 and Liberty 1973).

After a disastrous one-year turn as the New York Jets head coach, Holtz returned to Division I, this time with Arkansas. Holtz never had a losing record with the Razorbacks, and he went to six bowls in seven years. He went to Minnesota for two years, and his next move, Notre Dame, is what puts Holtz in this Hall of Fame conversation.

With the Fighting Irish, Holtz won the National Championship in 1988, with a Fiesta Bowl win. Notre Dame won the 1989 Orange Bowl, 1991 Sugar Bowl, and 1992 and 1993 Cotton Bowls. Holtz had five top-six post-season rankings at Notre Dame.

Holtz walked away from Notre Dame in 1996 but returned to South Carolina for six years, taking a down-and-out team back to SEC respectability.

We are proud to nominate Lou Holtz for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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