Lou Holtz

College coach infobox
Name = Lou Holtz

---

Caption = Lou Holtz in July 2007
DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1937|1|6
Birthplace = Follansbee, West Virginia
Sport = Football
College =
Title =
CurrentRecord =
OverallRecord = NCAA: 249-132-7 (8th All-Time Division I-A by victories) NFL: 3-10
BowlRecord = 12-8-2
Awards = 1972 ACC Coach of the Year 1977 National Coach of the Year 1988 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award 2000 SEC Coach of the Year
Championships = 1988 NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
CFbDWID = 1103
Player = Y
Years = 1956-1957
Team = Kent State University
Position = LB
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1969-1971 1972-1975 1976 1977-1983 1984-1985 1986-1996 1999-2004
CoachTeams = William & Mary Tribe NC State Wolfpack New York Jets Arkansas Razorbacks Minnesota Golden Gophers Notre Dame Fighting Irish South Carolina Gamecocks
FootballHOF = 2008

Louis Leo Holtz (born on January 6 1937 in Follansbee, West Virginia) is an author, television commentator, motivational speaker, and former NCAA football and NFL head coach. Holtz is the only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to bowl games and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 20 rankings. He is also a multiple winner of National Coach of the Year honors. After growing up in East Liverpool, Ohio and graduating from East Liverpool High School, Holtz attended Kent State University.He is a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, played football and graduated in 1959. Over the years, the slender, bespectacled Holtz has become known for his quick wit and ability to inspire players. In 2005, Holtz joined ESPN as a college football analyst. On April 21 2007, Holtz made an appearance as an honorary head coach, along with Ara Parseghian, for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football's annual Blue-Gold Game, a yearly intra-squad scrimmage that marks the end of spring football practice for the Irish. Holtz guided the Gold team to a 10-6 victory. [ [http://www.uhnd.com/articles/2007/football/parseghian-and-holtz-to-coach-blue-gold-game/ Parseghian and Holtz To Coach Blue-Gold Game - UHND.com ] ] On May 1, 2008, Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/05/01/cfb.hall.ap/index.html|title=Aikman, Cannon, Holtz head for College Football Hall of Fame|date=2008-05-01] .

Coaching career

Holtz began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1960, at the University of Iowa, where he received his Master's degree. From there, he made stops as an assistant at The College of William & Mary (1961–63), the University of Connecticut (1964–65), the University of South Carolina (1966–67) and Ohio State University (1968). The Ohio State Buckeyes won the NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship during Holtz's season in Columbus, Ohio.

The College of William & Mary

Holtz's first job as head coach was at The College of William & Mary, then playing in the Southern Conference, starting in 1969. In 1970, the Holtz-led William & Mary Tribe won the Southern Conference title and played in the Tangerine Bowl. As of 2007, it was the only bowl game in which a College of William and Mary team has ever played. Since Holtz's tenure there, The College of William & Mary has changed to NCAA Division I-AA.

North Carolina State University

In 1972, Holtz moved to North Carolina State University and had a 31–11–2 record in four seasons. His team played in four bowl games, winning two, losing one, and tying one.

New York Jets

Holtz's lone foray into the professional ranks consisted of one season with the New York Jets in 1976. He resigned with one game remaining in the season after going 3–10.

University of Arkansas

Holtz went to the University of Arkansas in 1977. In his seven years there, the Arkansas Razorbacks compiled a 60–21–2 record and reached six bowl games. In his rookie season with the Razorbacks, he led Arkansas to a berth in the Orange Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners, then coached by University of Arkansas alumnus Barry Switzer. The Sooners were in position to win their third national championship in four seasons, after top-ranked University of Texas at Austin lost earlier in the day to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team in the Cotton Bowl. Holtz had suspended his team's top two running backs for the Orange Bowl, for disciplinary reasons. However, behind 205 yards rushing, from reserve running back Roland Sales, the Hogs defeated the Sooners, 31–6. Holtz was dismissed following a 6–5 campaign in 1983.

University of Minnesota

Holtz accepted the head coach job at the University of Minnesota before the 1984 season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers had won only four games in the previous two seasons, but had a winning record in 1985 and were invited to the Independence Bowl, where they defeated Clemson University, 20–13. Holtz did not coach the Golden Gophers in that bowl game, as he had already accepted the head coaching position at the University of Notre Dame. His contract included a "Notre Dame clause" that allowed him to leave if the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coaching job were to become available. [ [http://www.irishlegends.com/pages/reflections/reflections10.html Reflections of the Dome] ]

University of Notre Dame

In 1986, Holtz left the University of Minnesota to take over the then-struggling Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program and wasted no time turning it around. A taskmaster and strict disciplinarian, he got the players' attention right away, at their first team meeting upon his introduction. Holtz had the names removed from the backs of the player's jerseys when he took over at Notre Dame, wanting to emphasize team effort. Except for the 1988 Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M, names have not been included on Notre Dame's team jerseys ever since. Although his 1986 squad posted an identical 5–6 mark that the 1985 edition had, five of their six losses were by a combined total of 14 points. In the season finale against the archrival USC Trojans, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit and pulled out a 38-37 win over the stunned USC team.

In his second season, Holtz led the Fighting Irish to an appearance in the Cotton Bowl, where the Irish lost to the Texas A&M Aggies, 35–10. The following year, Notre Dame won all eleven of their regular season games and defeated the third-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers, 34-21, in the Fiesta Bowl, claiming the NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship. The 1989 squad also won their first eleven games (and in the process set a school record with a 23-game winning streakcite web |url=http://und.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/nd/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07fbguidehistory |title = 2007 Notre Dame Media Guide: History and Records (pages 131-175) | publisher= und.cstv.com | accessdate=2008-07-10] ) and remained in the #1 spot all season until losing to Miami Hurricanes in the season finale. A 21–6 win over Colorado in the Orange Bowl gave the Irish a second-place ranking in the final standings, as well as back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time in school history.

Holtz's 1993 Irish team ended the season with an 11–1 record and ranked second in the final AP poll. Although the Florida State Seminoles were defeated by the Irish in a battle of unbeatens during the regular season and both teams had only 1 loss at season's end (Notre Dame lost to seventeenth-ranked Boston College), FSU was then voted national champion in the final 1993 AP and Coaches poll. Between 1988 and 1993, Holtz's teams posted an overall 64–9–1 record. He also took the Irish to bowl games for nine consecutive seasons, still a Notre Dame record, and has referred to Notre Dame football as the "Michelangelo" of the NCAA.

On September 13, 2008 Lou Holtz was invited back to the campus where a statue of the former coach was unveiled. The ceremony took place during the weekend of the Notre Dame/Michigan game, almost twenty-two years to the day when Holtz coached his first Notre Dame team against the Wolverines.

First retirement

Holtz left Notre Dame after the 1996 season and walked away from a lifetime contract for undisclosed reasons. When pressed, all he would say was that "it was the right thing to do." He was succeeded by defensive coordinator Bob Davie.

In 1996, two members of the Minnesota Vikings's ownership board, Wheelock Whitney and Jaye Dyer, reportedly contacted Holtz. They wanted to bring him in to replace Dennis Green. [ [http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-96/11-19-96/d04sp152.htm Vikings' owners divided on Holtz] . Ron Lesko. Associated Press. November 19, 1996. copy hosted on southcoasttoday.com] Of the rumors surrounding the reasons for Holtz's retirement, one of them was the possible Vikings head coaching position. [ [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/VIKINGS'+GREEN+SAYS+HIS+TEAM'S+IN+HUNT-a084033967 VIKINGS' GREEN SAYS HIS TEAM'S IN HUNT] Lee Shappell. Arizona Republic ]

University of South Carolina

After two seasons as a commentator for CBS Sports, Holtz came out of retirement in 1999 and returned to the University of South Carolina, where he had been an assistant in the 1960s. The year before Holtz arrived, the South Carolina Gamecocks went 1–10, and the team subsequently went 0-11, during Holtz's first season.

In his second season, the South Carolina Gamecocks went 8–4, winning the Outback Bowl over the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes. The eight-game improvement from the previous year was the best in the nation in 2000 and the third best single-season turnaround in NCAA history. [ [http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2006/2006_d1_football_records_book.pdf NCAA football records] , p. 67.] In his third season, Holtz's success continued, leading the South Carolina Gamecocks to a 9-3 record and another Outback Bowl victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The nine wins for the season were the second highest total in the history of the program.

econd retirement

On November 18 2004, Holtz announced that he would retire at the end of the season. On November 21 2004, the South Carolina-Clemson brawl took place during Holtz' last regular season game.cite news|last=Thamel|first= Pete| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/sports/ncaafootball/23football.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |title=Holtz Goes; Brawlers Won't Play On in Bowls|publisher=nytimes.com |date=2004-11-23 |accessdate=2008-07-28] Instead of ending his career at a post-season bowl game, which was expected, the two universities announced that each would penalize their respective football programs for their unsportsmanlike conduct by declining any bowl game invitations. At his last press conference as South Carolina's coach, Holtz said it was ironic that he and former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes both would be remembered for "getting into a fight at the Clemson game" (referring to an incident at the 1978 Gator Bowl where Hayes punched a Clemson player in the neck after making an interception). Holtz also alluded to his assistance in recruiting his successor, Steve Spurrier.

Books

Holtz is the author of five books.
*"The Kitchen Quarterback", Parkin, 1980. (ASIN|B0006XJC3C)
*"The Fighting Spirit: A Championship Season at Notre Dame" (co-written with John Heisler), Random House, 1991. (ISBN 0-671-67673-3)
*"Winning Every Day", Collins, 1998. (ISBN 0-887-30904-6)
*"Wins, Losses, and Lessons", William Morrow, 2006. (ISBN 0-06-084080-3)
*"A Teen's Game Plan for Life" (revised), Sorin Books, 2007. (ISBN 1-933495-09-X)

Broadcasting career

Holtz has worked for CBS Sports as a college football analyst and currently works in the same capacity for the cable network ESPN. His main duty is to provide analysis for "College GameDay".

Personal life

Holtz married the former Beth Barcus on July 22 1961. They are parents of four children, three of whom are Notre Dame graduates. Their eldest son, Skip, is currently head football coach at East Carolina University. Holtz is on the Catholic Advisory Board of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds, and gives motivational speeches. Coach Holtz is also a member at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Collegiate coaching record

CFB Yearly Record Start
type=coach
team=
conf=
bowl=
poll=CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = William & Mary
conf = Southern Conference
startyear = 1969
endyear = 1971CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1969
name = William & Mary
overall = 3-7
conference = 2-2
confstanding = 4
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1970
name = William & Mary
overall = 5-7
conference = 3-1
confstanding = 1
bowlname = Tangerine Bowl
bowloutcome = L 12-40 (Toledo)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1971
name = William & Mary
overall = 5-6
conference = 4-1
confstanding = 2
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = William & Mary
overall = 13-20
confrecord = 9-4CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = North Carolina State
conf = Atlantic Coast Conference
startyear = 1972
endyear = 1975CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1972
name = North Carolina State
overall = 8-3-1
conference = 4-1-1
confstanding = 2
bowlname = Peach Bowl
bowloutcome = W 49-13 (WVU)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1973
name = North Carolina State
overall = 9-3
conference = 6-0
confstanding = 1
bowlname = Liberty Bowl
bowloutcome = W 31-18 (Kansas)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1974
name = North Carolina State
overall = 9-2-1
conference = 4-2
confstanding = 2
bowlname = Bluebonnet Bowl
bowloutcome = T 31-31 (Houston)
ranking = 9
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1975
name = North Carolina State
overall = 7-4-1
conference = 2-2-1
confstanding = 4
bowlname = Peach Bowl
bowloutcome = L 10-13 (WVU)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = North Carolina State
overall = 33-12-3
confrecord = 16-5-2CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Arkansas
conf = Southwest Conference
startyear = 1977
endyear = 1983CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1977
name = Arkansas
overall = 11-1
conference = 7-1
confstanding = 2
bowlname = Orange Bowl
bowloutcome = W 31-6 (Okla)
ranking = 3
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1978
name = Arkansas
overall = 9-2-1
conference = 6-2
confstanding = 2
bowlname = Fiesta Bowl
bowloutcome = T 10-10 (UCLA)
ranking = 10
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1979
name = Arkansas
overall = 10-2
conference = 7-1
confstanding = 1 "(t)"
bowlname = Sugar Bowl
bowloutcome = L 24-9 (Bama)
ranking = 9
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1980
name = Arkansas
overall = 7-5
conference = 3-5
confstanding = 6
bowlname = Hall of Fame Classic
bowloutcome = W 34-14 (Tulane)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1981
name = Arkansas
overall = 8-4
conference = 5-3
confstanding = 4
bowlname = Gator Bowl
bowloutcome = L 27-31 (UNC)
ranking = 16
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1982
name = Arkansas
overall = 9-2-1
conference = 5-2-1
confstanding = 3
bowlname = Bluebonnet Bowl
bowloutcome = W 28-24 (UF)
ranking = 8
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1983
name = Arkansas
overall = 6-5
conference = 4-4
confstanding = 5
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Arkansas
overall = 60-21-2
confrecord = 37-18-1CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Minnesota
conf = Big Ten Conference
startyear = 1984
endyear = 1985CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1984
name = Minnesota
overall = 4-7
conference = 3-6
confstanding = 8
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1985
name = Minnesota
overall = 6-5
conference = 4-4
confstanding = 6
bowlname = Independence Bowl
bowloutcome = W 20-13 (Clemson)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Minnesota
overall = 10-12
confrecord = 7-10CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = Notre Dame
conf = Independent
startyear = 1986
endyear = 1996CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1986
name = Notre Dame
overall = 5-6
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1987
name = Notre Dame
overall = 8-4
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Cotton Bowl
bowloutcome = L 10-35 (TAMU)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = national
year = 1988
name = Notre Dame
overall = 12-0
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Fiesta Bowl
bowloutcome = W 34-21 (WVU)
ranking = 1
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1989
name = Notre Dame
overall = 12-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Orange Bowl
bowloutcome = W 21-6 (CU)
ranking = 3
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1990
name = Notre Dame
overall = 9-3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Orange Bowl
bowloutcome = L 9-10 (CU)
ranking = 6
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1991
name = Notre Dame
overall = 10-3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Sugar Bowl
bowloutcome = W 39-28 (UF)
ranking = 12
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1992
name = Notre Dame
overall = 10-1-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Cotton Bowl
bowloutcome = W 28-3 (TAMU)
ranking = 4
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1993
name = Notre Dame
overall = 11-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Cotton Bowl
bowloutcome = W 24-21 (TAMU)
ranking = 2
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1994
name = Notre Dame
overall = 6-5-1
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Fiesta Bowl
bowloutcome = L 24-41 (CU)
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1995
name = Notre Dame
overall = 9-3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname = Orange Bowl
bowloutcome = L 26-31 (FSU)
ranking = 13
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1996
name = Notre Dame
overall = 8-3
conference =
confstanding =
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = 21
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = Notre Dame
overall = 100-30-2
confrecord = CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name = South Carolina
conf = Southeastern Conference
startyear = 1999
endyear = 2004CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1999
name = South Carolina
overall = 0-11
conference = 0-8
confstanding = 6 - East
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2000
name = South Carolina
overall = 8-4
conference = 5-3
confstanding = 2 - East
bowlname = Outback Bowl
bowloutcome = W 24-7 (OSU)
ranking = 21
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2001
name = South Carolina
overall = 9-3
conference = 5-3
confstanding = 3 - East
bowlname = Outback Bowl
bowloutcome = W 31-28 (OSU)
ranking = 13
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2002
name = South Carolina
overall = 5-7
conference = 3-5
confstanding = 4 - East
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2003
name = South Carolina
overall = 5-7
conference = 2-6
confstanding = 4 - East
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2004
name = South Carolina
overall = 6-5
conference = 4-4
confstanding = 3 - East
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking =
ranking2 = noCFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name = South Carolina
overall = 33-37
confrecord = 19-29CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 249-132-7
bcs = no
poll=
polltype=

Source: cite web|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=1103|title=Lou Holtz Records By Year|publisher=cfbdatawarehouse.com|accessdate=2008-07-28]

ee also

*List of National Football League head coaches

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.razorbacklegacy.com/features/coaches/?id=24 The Razorback Legacy - Lou Holtz - Record / Bio]
* [http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/4583/Lou_Holtz/index.aspx?WT.mc_id=WLouHoltz Audio excerpt and chapter from autobiograpy "Wins, Losses, and Lessons"] (Official publisher web page)
* [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/198/story_19870_1.html Beliefnet Interview with Lou Holtz (includes audio)]
* [http://www.quotationcollection.com/author/Lou_Holtz/quotes Lou Holtz Quotes]
* [http://www.leadernetwork.org/lou_holtz_may_07.htm Lou Holtz leadership]
* [http://www.louholtzhalloffame.com The Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame] , located in East Liverpool, Ohio, houses Lou Holtz memorabilia, and serves as a charity fundraiser for area residents and cultural development.
* [http://www.avemariafunds.com Lou Holtz on Catholic Advisory Board - Ave Maria Mutual Funds]

Navboxes|list1=