Lou Holtz, one of college football’s most iconic figures, is still with us - and still fighting - according to his son, Skip Holtz, who addressed the flurry of premature tributes and rumors that circulated over the weekend.
The legendary coach, who recently entered hospice care, became the subject of widespread social media posts on Saturday, many of which mistakenly suggested he had passed. But Skip Holtz took to social media Sunday to set the record straight and offer a heartfelt update on his father’s condition.
“Dad is 89 and he is STILL fighting the fight! Only the man upstairs knows how much time is left on the clock. Cherishing the time we still have together in Orlando,” Skip wrote, alongside a photo of the two sharing a moment together.
The message was clear: while Lou Holtz is in a difficult chapter, he’s very much alive - and still battling with the same grit that defined his coaching career.
Kyle Sutherland, a reporter with close ties to the Arkansas football community, also confirmed the news late Saturday night, stating that as of 10:35 p.m. CT on January 31, Coach Holtz was not only alive but, according to a source, “actually feeling better.”
That’s not just reassuring news for the Holtz family - it’s a moment of reflection for the entire college football world. Because when you talk about Lou Holtz, you’re talking about a man who helped shape the sport across multiple decades and programs.
Holtz’s coaching résumé is the stuff of legend. He compiled a 249-132-7 record across his college coaching career, earning a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. But numbers only tell part of the story.
He’s perhaps best known for his decade-long run at Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996, where he led the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship - a season still etched in gold in South Bend. Holtz didn’t just win games; he built teams that embodied discipline, belief, and toughness. His Notre Dame squads were never short on talent, but it was Holtz’s leadership that consistently elevated them.
Before his time in South Bend, Holtz made his mark in Fayetteville, guiding Arkansas from 1977 to 1983 - well before the Razorbacks joined the SEC. He was named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1979, a nod to his ability to quickly turn programs into contenders.
Later, he returned to the SEC stage with South Carolina, taking over a struggling Gamecocks program in 1999 and coaching through 2004. By 2000, he had earned SEC Coach of the Year honors, proving once again that he could breathe life into any locker room.
Holtz’s legacy reaches far beyond the win-loss column. He’s inspired generations of players, coaches, and fans with his passion for the game and his unwavering belief in the power of preparation and perseverance. The tributes that poured in - even if premature - speak to the deep respect and admiration the football world holds for him.
For now, the message is simple: Lou Holtz is still here. Still fighting. And still reminding us what resilience looks like - both on and off the field.