President Donald Trump on Thursday paid tribute to legendary college football coach Lou Holtz following the coach’s death, remembering him as both a titan of the sport and, in Trump’s words, a “true American patriot.”
Holtz died Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at age 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family. Over a coaching career that spanned five decades, he built one of the most recognizable résumés in college football, compiling 249 wins and leading the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to an undefeated national championship season in 1988. His accomplishments earned him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, noted The HIll.
Trump reflected on Holtz’s legacy in a Thursday post on Truth Social.
“The wonderful Lou Holtz passed away yesterday, so sad. Lou was an absolute WINNER both on and off the field.”
Holtz’s career reached its pinnacle at Notre Dame, where his 1988 squad completed a perfect season capped by a 31–30 victory over Miami in the famous “Catholics vs. Convicts” game—one of the most memorable matchups in college football history. The win helped cement Holtz’s reputation as a master motivator capable of transforming programs and elevating players beyond expectations.
But Trump emphasized that Holtz’s influence extended beyond the sidelines.
The president noted that the coach had raised “Millions upon Millions for struggling student-athletes” through charitable efforts, including the organization Holtz Heroes. The nonprofit, founded in 2008 by several of Holtz’s former players, provides financial support to current and former student-athletes facing hardship.
Trump also recalled their personal relationship, describing Holtz as a loyal friend who supported him politically during his presidency.
The president pointed to Holtz’s appearance at the 2020 Republican National Convention, where the coach praised Trump as an “outstanding leader.” Trump later awarded Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, near the end of his first term.
Trump concluded his message with: “Rest in Peace, Lou. Because of Patriots like you, we have made America GREAT AGAIN!”
Born in West Virginia, Holtz retired from coaching after the 2004 season and later became a prominent television analyst and commentator on college football. His death comes as Trump prepares to host a White House roundtable on Friday focused on reform in college athletics—an issue that has increasingly drawn attention amid changes to athlete compensation, conference realignment, and the expanding role of name, image, and likeness agreements.
