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President Donald Trump paid tribute to late legendary football coach Lou Holtz on Thursday following his death on Wednesday at the age of 89.
Trump shared a tribute to Holtz in a Truth Social post.
Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz listens before receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The wonderful Lou Holtz passed away yesterday, very sad. Lou was an absolute WINNER both on and off the field. Not only did he spearhead Notre Dame’s HISTORIC undefeated season in 1988 (including the legendary 31-30 ‘Catholics vs. Convicts’ victory against Miami), but he raised millions and millions for struggling student-athletes and the AMAZING University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!),” Trump wrote.
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“He was also a true American patriot, supporting me through thick and thin and constantly speaking out against Democratic madness, including ‘Transgender for All’ and the illegal alien invasion.
“It is for all of this incredible work that I awarded Lou Holtz our nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rest in peace, Lou. Thanks to patriots like you, we have made America GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Holtz was a known Trump supporter, even saying in February 2024 that Trump needed to “coach America back to greatness.”
Near the end of Trump’s first term, shortly after former President Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, Trump awarded Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Holtz, who also spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, was humbled by the honor.
“It is the highest honor or award you can receive and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I am honored,” Holtz said.fox and friends” later. “There are many more people much more worthy than me, I can assure you.
“No one is more grateful than me. So I’m excited to have this opportunity and at the same time, I’m excited to get it from President Trump. The president that I admire and respect. I think he did a tremendous job.”
At the time, Holtz also called Trump “one of the great presidents of my lifetime.”
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President Donald Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Holtz was the first coach in NCAA history by taking six different football programs to bowl games, including William & Mary (1969-71), NC State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83) and South Carolina (1999-2004). The only team with which he could not achieve the feat was Minnesota, which he coached from 1984 to 1985.
Holtz finished his coaching career with a record of 249-132-7 in 388 games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
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