Lou Holtz Biography

Lou Holtz is a famous American Football Coach, who was born on Jan 06, 1937 in West Virginia, United States. Find Lou Holtz age, wife, net worth, height, weight, education, career, family, images, biography & more updates. Get information about Lou Holtz’s all key achievements or accomplishments, including professional and personal life detail.

Personal Profile About Lou Holtz

Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz was an American college football coach, television analyst, motivational speaker, and author. He served as head coach at William and Mary; NC State; the New York Jets; Arkansas; Minnesota; Notre Dame; and South Carolina. In his over five-decade career, he became the only coach in NCAA history to take six different programs to bowl games.

The Lou Holtz biography states that he played linebacker at Kent State University and earned a degree in history in 1959. He later completed a master's degree in arts and education at the University of Iowa in 1961.

After retiring from coaching, he worked as a college football analyst for ESPN and CBS Sports for over a decade. In 2020, President Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Lou Holtz Cause of Death

Lou Holtz died on March 4, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. His son Skip confirmed the news, writing that his father passed away resting peacefully at home. The Lou Holtz cause of death was not officially disclosed by the family. His health had been gradually declining due to age-related complications.

He had entered hospice care at his Orlando home in late January 2026. His family's focus in his final weeks was on his comfort and quality of life. A Mass of Christian burial was planned at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.

Lou Holtz Illness

Holtz had a long history of serious health challenges. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1997 and later with prostate cancer in 2014. A car crash in 2025 added further physical strain and contributed to his declining health in his final year.

Lou Holtz illness in his last months was described by his family as age-related, without a single specific medical diagnosis being named publicly. Despite his condition, reports from ESPN broadcaster Rece Davis noted that weeks before his death, a caregiver had sent a photo of Holtz sitting comfortably at home with a pipe, watching the classic TV show Perry Mason.

Lou Holtz Age

Lou Holtz age at the time of his death was 89 years. He was born on January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, and grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa in 1960.

He retired in 2004 at age 67. His head coaching career at Notre Dame alone lasted 11 seasons, during which he won 100 games and guided the team to nine consecutive January bowl appearances.

Lou Holtz Net Worth

Lou Holtz net worth at the time of his death was estimated at $12 million. However, it is not confirmed. He earned money from his coaching salaries, broadcasting work, motivational speaking fees, and book royalties. His peak coaching salary at South Carolina reached approximately $655,000 per year, while his Notre Dame contract in 1991 paid around $1 million annually.

His stint as a college football analyst at ESPN added an estimated $5 to $10 million to his earnings. He and his wife, Beth, also donated millions to Notre Dame. They funded the Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room at Hesburgh Library.