History of Lou Holtz in Timeline

Lou Holtz is a renowned former American football coach and TV analyst with a career record of 249-132-7. He coached at various institutions like William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. Notably, he led Notre Dame to an undefeated season in 1988, culminating in a Fiesta Bowl victory and a national championship. He holds the unique distinction of leading six different teams to bowl games and four to final top 15 rankings.

January 6, 1937: Birth of Lou Holtz

Lou Holtz was born on January 6, 1937.

1959: Holtz Graduates from Kent State University

Lou Holtz earned his degree in history from Kent State University in 1959.

1960: Holtz Begins Coaching Journey as Graduate Assistant at Iowa

Lou Holtz's coaching career commenced in 1960 as a graduate assistant at the University of Iowa while pursuing his master's degree.

July 22, 1961: Marriage to Beth Barcus

On July 22, 1961, Lou Holtz married Beth Barcus. This marked the beginning of their lifelong relationship.

1961: Holtz Joins William & Mary Coaching Staff

Lou Holtz began working as an assistant coach at William & Mary in 1961.

1963: End of First Stint at William & Mary

Lou Holtz's initial period as an assistant coach at William & Mary concluded in 1963.

1964: Holtz Joins Connecticut Coaching Staff

Lou Holtz took on a coaching role at the University of Connecticut in 1964.

1965: Holtz Departs from Connecticut

Lou Holtz's time as a coach at the University of Connecticut ended in 1965.

1966: Holtz Joins South Carolina Coaching Staff

Lou Holtz became part of the coaching staff at the University of South Carolina in 1966.

1967: Holtz's First Stint at South Carolina Ends

Lou Holtz concluded his initial period as a coach at the University of South Carolina in 1967.

1968: Holtz Joins Ohio State as Assistant Coach, Wins National Championship

Lou Holtz joined Ohio State as an assistant coach in 1968 and contributed to the team's national championship victory that year.

1969: Lou Holtz Starts Coaching at William & Mary

Lou Holtz began his head coaching career in 1969 at the College of William & Mary.

1969: Holtz Becomes Head Coach at William & Mary

Lou Holtz's first head coaching position began in 1969 at the College of William & Mary.

1970: William & Mary Wins Southern Conference, Earns Tangerine Bowl Berth

Under Lou Holtz's leadership, the William & Mary Indians (now Tribe) secured the Southern Conference title and a spot in the Tangerine Bowl in 1970.

1971: End of Tenure at William & Mary

Lou Holtz's time as head coach at the College of William & Mary ended in 1971.

1972: Holtz Becomes Head Coach at North Carolina State University

In 1972, Lou Holtz became the head coach at North Carolina State University.

1972: Holtz Begins Tenure at North Carolina State

Lou Holtz's time as head coach at North Carolina State University commenced in 1972.

1973: North Carolina State Wins ACC Championship

Lou Holtz led North Carolina State to an ACC Championship victory in 1973.

1974: North Carolina State Achieves Top 10 Ranking

In 1974, Lou Holtz guided North Carolina State to a final Top 10 ranking in the Coaches Poll.

1975: Holtz Departs North Carolina State for the NFL

After the 1975 season, Lou Holtz accepted an offer to leave North Carolina State and become the head coach of the NFL's New York Jets.

February 10, 1976: Holtz Named Head Coach of New York Jets

On February 10, 1976, Lou Holtz was appointed as the head coach of the NFL's New York Jets.

1976: Holtz's Short Stint with the New York Jets

Lou Holtz's time as the head coach of the New York Jets was short-lived, ending in 1976.

1977: Holtz Takes the Helm at the University of Arkansas

Lou Holtz began his tenure at the University of Arkansas in 1977.

1977: Holtz Starts at University of Arkansas

Lou Holtz's tenure at the University of Arkansas began in 1977.

1978: Arkansas Defeats Oklahoma in Orange Bowl

In 1978, Lou Holtz's Arkansas Razorbacks triumphed over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl.

1979: Arkansas Wins Share of SWC Championship

Lou Holtz led the Arkansas Razorbacks to a share of the SWC championship in 1979.

1979: Holtz Named SWC Coach of the Year

Lou Holtz received the SWC Coach of the Year award in 1979.

1979: Holtz Considered for Ohio State Coaching Position

Lou Holtz was widely considered as a top candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Ohio State in 1979, but he ultimately chose not to pursue the opportunity.

1982: Arkansas Wins Bluebonnet Bowl

The Arkansas Razorbacks, coached by Lou Holtz, emerged victorious in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl.

1983: Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Induction

In 1983, Lou Holtz was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

1983: Holtz Dismissed from Arkansas

Lou Holtz's time as head coach at Arkansas ended with his dismissal in 1983.

1983: Departure from the University of Arkansas

Lou Holtz's time at the University of Arkansas ended in 1983.

1983: Minnesota's Struggles Before Holtz

Prior to Lou Holtz's arrival in 1983, the Minnesota Golden Gophers had only managed to win one game.

1984: Holtz Takes Over as Head Coach at the University of Minnesota

Lou Holtz became the head coach at the University of Minnesota in 1984.

1984: Holtz Becomes Head Coach at Minnesota

Lou Holtz took on the role of head coach at the University of Minnesota in 1984.

1985: Holtz Leaves Minnesota for Notre Dame

In 1985, Lou Holtz accepted the head coaching position at Notre Dame and left the University of Minnesota.

1985: Minnesota Wins Independence Bowl Under Holtz

Lou Holtz guided the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a victory over Clemson in the 1985 Independence Bowl. However, he had already accepted the head coaching position at Notre Dame and did not coach the Gophers in the game.

1985: Notre Dame's Performance Before Holtz

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a 5-6 record in 1985, the season before Lou Holtz became head coach.

1986: Holtz Begins His Tenure at Notre Dame

Lou Holtz became the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program in 1986.

1986: Holtz Emphasizes Teamwork at Notre Dame

Upon taking over at Notre Dame in 1986, Lou Holtz removed the players' names from the backs of their jerseys to emphasize team unity.

1988: Notre Dame's Cotton Bowl Classic Appearance

In 1988, Lou Holtz led the Fighting Irish to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where they lost to the Texas A&M Aggies.

1988: Undefeated Season and National Championship at Notre Dame

Lou Holtz led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to an undefeated season and a consensus national championship in 1988.

1989: Notre Dame's National Championship Win and Fiesta Bowl Victory

In 1989, Notre Dame, under Holtz's leadership, achieved an undefeated regular season and clinched the national championship by winning the Fiesta Bowl against the West Virginia Mountaineers. They also set a school record with a 23-game winning streak.

1990: Rumors of Holtz Leaving for the NFL

Despite a 6-10 season with Notre Dame, rumors circulated in 1990 about Holtz potentially leaving to coach the Minnesota Vikings. However, Holtz denied these rumors and remained at Notre Dame.

1990: Golden Plate Award

Lou Holtz received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1990.

March 1991: NCAA Sanctions Minnesota for Recruiting Violations During Holtz Era

In March 1991, the NCAA imposed sanctions on the University of Minnesota for recruiting violations that occurred during Lou Holtz's time as head coach.

1991: Continued Rumors and Holtz's Denial

Rumors of Holtz leaving Notre Dame for the NFL persisted in 1991 following an 8-8 season. The Minnesota Vikings were again mentioned as a potential destination, but Holtz dismissed the rumors and stayed at Notre Dame.

1992: Minnesota Receives Bowl Ban

As part of the NCAA sanctions, the University of Minnesota was handed a bowl ban in 1992.

1993: Notre Dame's Undefeated Regular Season and Final AP Poll Ranking

In 1993, Holtz's Notre Dame team finished the regular season undefeated but lost to Boston College. Despite this, they were ranked second in the final AP poll.

1994: Appearance on "Coach"

In 1994, Lou Holtz made a cameo appearance as himself in an episode of the television series "Coach".

1996: Holtz's Departure from Notre Dame and Rumors of NFL Interest

Lou Holtz left Notre Dame after the 1996 season amidst rumors of a potential coaching opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings.

1996: End of an Era: Holtz Departs Notre Dame

Lou Holtz's time as head coach at Notre Dame ended in 1996.

1998: Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame Induction

Lou Holtz was inducted into the Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame in 1998.

1999: Holtz's Return to Coaching at South Carolina

After a stint as a commentator, Lou Holtz returned to coaching in 1999, taking over a struggling South Carolina program that had gone 1-10 the previous year.

1999: Political Involvement

In 1999, Lou Holtz showed his support for the Republican Party by hosting former Vice President Dan Quayle during a fundraising tour.

1999: NCAA Investigation and Probation for Notre Dame

In 1999, the NCAA placed Notre Dame on probation due to violations that occurred between 1993 and 1999, including extra benefits provided to players and academic fraud. While Holtz was not directly implicated, the NCAA found his efforts to address the violations "inadequate.".

1999: Holtz Returns to Coaching at the University of South Carolina

Lou Holtz came back to coaching in 1999, taking the helm at the University of South Carolina.

2000: South Carolina's Turnaround Season and Holtz's Coach of the Year Award

In 2000, Holtz orchestrated a remarkable turnaround at South Carolina, leading the Gamecocks to an 8-4 record and an Outback Bowl victory after going 0-11 the previous season. His performance earned him National Coach of the Year honors.

2001: Continued Success at South Carolina

Holtz's success at South Carolina continued in 2001, as he guided the Gamecocks to a 9-3 record and another Outback Bowl win, marking the program's best two-year stretch in history.

2002: South Carolina's Consecutive 5-7 Seasons

Following two successful years, South Carolina experienced a dip in performance, recording consecutive 5-7 seasons in 2002 and 2003 under Holtz's leadership.

2003: South Carolina's Consecutive 5-7 Seasons

Following two successful years, South Carolina experienced a dip in performance, recording consecutive 5-7 seasons in 2002 and 2003 under Holtz's leadership.

November 18, 2004: Holtz Announces Retirement

On November 18, 2004, Lou Holtz announced his retirement from coaching, effective at the end of the season.

November 20, 2004: Clemson-South Carolina Brawl Marks Holtz's Final Game

Holtz's final game as a coach was marred by a brawl between Clemson and South Carolina, leading to both universities declining bowl game invitations.

2004: Holtz's Winning End to his South Carolina Tenure

In his final season at South Carolina in 2004, Holtz led the Gamecocks to a 6-5 record, concluding his tenure on a positive note.

2004: Holtz's Coaching Career Concludes at South Carolina

Lou Holtz finished his coaching career at the University of South Carolina in 2004.

2005: NCAA Sanctions on South Carolina

In 2005, the NCAA imposed sanctions on the South Carolina football program for violations that occurred under Holtz's watch. The violations involved improper tutoring, off-season workouts, and a lack of institutional control.

2005: Holtz Joins ESPN as College Football Analyst

Lou Holtz began working as a television analyst for ESPN, covering college football, in 2005.

2007: Address to House Republicans

Lou Holtz spoke at a House Republicans strategy meeting in 2007.

May 1, 2008: Holtz Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

Lou Holtz was honored for his contributions to college football with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame on May 1, 2008.

September 13, 2008: Statue Unveiling at Notre Dame

On September 13, 2008, Lou Holtz was honored with a statue unveiling at Notre Dame, coinciding with the Notre Dame/Michigan game.

2008: Contribution to Hillary Clinton Campaign

In 2008, Lou Holtz donated $2,300 to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

2008: Holtz's Controversial Hitler Remark

While working as a college football analyst for ESPN in 2008, Holtz sparked controversy by referencing Adolf Hitler during an on-air comment. He later apologized for the remark.

2009: Consideration of Congressional Run

Lou Holtz considered joining the Republican primary for a Florida Congressional seat in 2009.

May 22, 2011: Honorary Doctor of Laws

Lou Holtz was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame on May 22, 2011.

November 2011: Discover Card Commercial

In November 2011, Lou Holtz appeared as himself in a Discover Card commercial.

April 19, 2012: Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame Induction

On April 19, 2012, Lou Holtz was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.

December 17, 2012: Honorary Doctor of Education

The University of South Carolina awarded Lou Holtz an honorary Doctor of Education degree on December 17, 2012.

2013: Trine University Program Naming

In 2013, Trine University named a program in honor of Lou Holtz: the Lou Holtz Master of Science in Leadership Program.

April 12, 2015: Holtz Leaves ESPN

After several years as a college football analyst, Lou Holtz departed from ESPN on April 12, 2015.

May 9, 2015: Honorary Doctorate in Communications

Franciscan University of Steubenville awarded Lou Holtz an honorary Doctorate in Communications on May 9, 2015. He also delivered the commencement address.