Lou Holtz, legendary college football coach, dies at 89

Holtz led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to their last national championship in 1988.

Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, who led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to their last national championship in 1988, has died, the school announced on Wednesday.

Holtz was 89.

The former coach had been in failing health in recent months with his family announcing he'd been moved to hospice care in Orlando, Florida.

In 33 seasons on the college sidelines, Holtz went 249-132-7 with a bulk of that work coming in South Bend, where the Irish were 100-30-2 from 1986 to 1996.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz," current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said in a statement.

"Lou's impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the football field. He and his wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carry out Notre Dame's mission."

Holtz's head coaching career took him to William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina, in addition to Notre Dame.

In between the NC State and Arkansas gigs, Holtz tried his hand at pro ball, going 3-10 in one season running the New York Jets. He quit with one game left in that 1976 season.

Holtz famously and prophetically said of his time in New York: “God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros.”

He could not have been more correct, immediately landing inFayetteville and leading the Razorbacks to glory. The Hogs were 60-21-2 in Holtz's time there, with only one coach to win more games at Arkansas since his departure.