Lou Holtz Louis Leo " Lou " Holtz ( born January 6 , 1937 ) is a retired American football coach , and active sportscaster , author , and motivational speaker . He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary ( 1969 – 1971 ) , North Carolina State University ( 1972 – 1975 ) , the University of Arkansas ( 1977 – 1983 ) , the University of Minnesota ( 1984 – 1985 ) , the University of Notre Dame ( 1986 – 1996 ) , and the University of South Carolina ( 1999 – 2004 ) , compiling a career record of 249 – 132 – 7 . Holtz ' s 1988 Notre Dame team went 12 – 0 with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl and was the consensus national champion . Holtz is the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl game s and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 20 rankings . Holtz also coached the New York Jets of the NFL during the 1976 season . Over the years , the slender , bespectacled Holtz has become known for his quick wit and ability to inspire players . He is often found as a guest on the popular Richmond , Virginia based Kain Road Radio . In 2005 , Holtz joined ESPN as a college football analyst . On May 1 , 2008 , Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame . Early life and coaching career . Holtz was born in Follansbee , WV and grew up in East Liverpool , Ohio , where he was raised as a Roman Catholic . He graduated from East Liverpool High School . After high school , Holtz attended Kent State University . He was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity , played college football as an undersized linebacker , and graduated in 1959 . He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1960 , at Iowa , where he received his Master ' s degree . From there , he made stops as an assistant at William & Mary ( 1961 – 1963 ) , Connecticut ( 1964 – 1965 ) , South Carolina ( 1966 – 1967 ) and Ohio State ( 1968 ) . The Ohio State Buckeyes won the national championship during Holtz ' s season with the team . William & Mary . Holtz ' s first job as head coach came in 1969 , at The College of William & Mary , who played in the Southern Conference at the time . In 1970 , he led the William & Mary Indians ( now Tribe ) to the Southern Conference title and played in the Tangerine Bowl . North Carolina State . In 1972 , Holtz moved to North Carolina State and had a 33 – 12 – 3 record in four seasons . His Wolfpack teams played in four bowl games , going 2 – 1 – 1 . Holtz received offers to become the Tulane head coach . He at first accepted the offer from David Dixon , the New Orleans Saints founder , then Holtz called Dixon saying he couldn ' t come to Tulane . 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 . Arkansas . Holtz went to the University of Arkansas in 1977 . In his seven years there , the Razorbacks compiled a 60 – 21 – 2 record and reached six bowl game s . In his first season at Arkansas , he led them to a berth in the 1978 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 Texas lost earlier in the day to fifth - ranked Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl Classic . Arkansas ' chances looked slim after the team lost several key personnel just before the game . In one of his last practices , All - American guard , Leotis Harris suffered a season - ending injury , and only a couple of days later Holtz suspended both starting running back s , Ben Cowins and Michael Forrest , and top receiver , Donny Bobo , for disciplinary reasons . However , behind an Orange Bowl record of 205 yards rushing from reserve running back Roland Sales the Hogs defeated the Sooners , 31 – 6 . Holtz was widely considered to be the leading candidate to replace Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1979 , but Holtz did not pursue the job because he did not want to follow Hayes . Holtz was dismissed following a 6 – 5 campaign in 1983 . At the time , Athletic Director Frank Broyles stated that Holtz had resigned because he was " tired and burned out " , and was not fired . Broyles testified 20 years later that he had fired Holtz because he was losing the fan base with things he said and did . Holtz confirmed that he had been fired , but that Broyles never gave him a reason , although reports suggested it may have been due to controversy over his having taped two television advertisements from his coach ' s office endorsing the re - election of Jesse Helms as Senator from North Carolina . Minnesota . Holtz accepted the head coach job at the University of Minnesota before the 1984 season . The 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 , 20 – 13 . Holtz did not coach the Gophers in that bowl game , as he had already accepted the head coaching position at Notre Dame . His contract included a " Notre Dame clause " that allowed him to leave if that coaching job were to become available . Years later , the NCAA placed Minnesota on two years probation for 17 rule violations , two of which were committed by Holtz during his tenure . Notre Dame . In 1986 , Holtz left Minnesota to take over the then - struggling Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program . A taskmaster and strict disciplinarian , Holtz had the names removed from the backs of the players ' jerseys when he took over at Notre Dame , wanting to emphasize team effort . Except for the 1988 Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas A & M , the 2008 Hawaii Bowl , the 2010 Sun Bowl against Miami and the 2013 BCS National Championship Game against Alabama , names have not been included on Notre Dame ' s team jerseys 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 , Notre Dame overcame a 17 - point fourth - quarter deficit and pulled out a 38 – 37 win over the stunned Southern Cal team . In his second season , Holtz led the Fighting Irish to an appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic , 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 1988 national championship . The 1989 squad also won their first eleven games ( and in the process set a school record with a 23 - game winning streak ) and remained in the No . 1 spot all season until losing to Miami 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 . Following an investigation in 1999 , the NCAA placed Notre Dame on two years probation for extra benefits provided to football players between 1993 and 1999 by Kim Dunbar , a former Notre Dame student , as well as one instance of academic fraud that occurred under Holtz ' s successor , Bob Davie . The NCAA found that Holtz and members of his staff learned of the violations but failed to make appropriate inquiry or to take prompt action , finding Holtz ' s efforts " inadequate . " 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 after Holtz coached his first Notre Dame team against the Wolverines . Testament to Recruiting . Lou Holtz ' s option offense , which helped catapult Notre Dame to many victories in the late 1980s and early 1990 ' s , also helped rack up impressive recruiting classes . During the 1989 season , Holtz had the following future NFL players on offense : QB Rick Mirer , RB Ricky Watters , RB Anthony Johnson , RB Rodney Culver , RB Dorsey Levens , and WR Raghib Ismail . In 1990 , he added RB Jeff Burris ( who would later move to Safety ) , FB Jerome Bettis and TE Irv Smith . 1991 saw the additions of RB Reggie Brooks and FB Ray Zellars . 1992 saw the addition of WR Derrick Mayes . For 1993 , he added FB Marc Edwards . In 1995 , he added RB Autry Denson . From the 1987 – 1991 NFL Draft s , there were 33 Notre Dame players selected . From the 1992 – 1995 NFL Draft s , there were 32 Notre Dame players selected . First retirement . Lou 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 , " It was the right thing to do . " One of the leading rumors for him leaving is the University " pushed " him out because they did not want him to have more wins than Knute Rockne ' s 105 wins , which he probably would have exceeded had he coached one more year . Knute Rockne still holds the record for most wins as Notre Dame Head Coach . 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 . Of the rumors surrounding the reasons for Holtz ' s retirement , one of them was the possible Vikings head coaching position . 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 Gamecocks went 1 – 10 , and the team subsequently went 0 – 11 during Holtz ' s first season . In his second season , South Carolina 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 . It also earned National Coach of the Year honors for Holtz from " Football News " and " American Football Coaches Quarterly " . In his third season , Holtz ' s success continued , leading the Gamecocks to a 9 – 3 record and another Outback Bowl victory over Ohio State . The nine wins for the season were the second highest total in the history of the program . Under Holtz ' s leadership , the Gamecocks posted their best two - year mark in school history from 2000 to 2001 , going 17 – 7 overall and 10 – 6 in SEC play . After consecutive 5 – 7 campaigns in 2002 and 2003 , Holtz finished his South Carolina tenure on a winning note with a 6 – 5 record in 2004 . Holtz ' s time in Columbia saw the resurrection of Gamecock Football , as the program had only one bowl win and no Top 25 finishes in the ten years before his hire . Upon his exit , USC had posted AP Top 25 finishes in 2000 and 2001 ( # 19 and No . 13 respectively ) and had made consecutive New Year ' s Day bowls for the first time in its history . In 2005 , the NCAA imposed three years probation and reductions in two scholarships on the program for ten admitted violations under Holtz , five of which were found to be major . The violations involved improper tutoring and off - season workouts , as well as a lack of institutional control . No games were forfeited , and no television or postseason ban was imposed . Holtz issued a statement after the sanctions were announced stating , " There was no money involved . No athletes were paid . There were no recruiting inducements . No cars . No jobs offered . No ticket scandal . " Second retirement . On November 18 , 2004 , Holtz announced that he would retire at the end of the season . On November 21 , 2004 , the Clemson – South Carolina brawl took place during Holtz ' s last regular season game . 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 " . Holtz also alluded to his assistance in recruiting his successor , Steve Spurrier . Motivational Speaking . Holtz speaks to various companies and student athletes annually . Holtz is an inspiration for Andy Albright President and CEO of National Agents Alliance and spoke about leadership at the 2008 National Convention . Holtz also spoke at the 2011 USF Football Kickoff Dinner in early August 2011 . Holtz also spoke at Benedictine College located in Atchison , Kansas in August 2012 . Lou quoted his book " Winning Everyday " in his speech . Lou Holtz spoke at the December graduation at the University of South Carolina in 2012 . Lou Holtz praised the Gamecocks ' football team during the speech saying the program is now one of the best in the nation . Books . Holtz has written or contributed to 10 books : 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 . He works on the secondary studio team , located in Bristol as opposed to the game site . He typically appears on pregame , halftime , and postgame shows of college football games . In addition , he appears on " College Football Scoreboard " , " College Football Final " , " College Football Live " , " SportsCenter " , and the occasional game . He typically partners with Rece Davis and Mark May . Holtz came under scrutiny after referencing Adolf Hitler in an on - air comment while appearing on " College Football Live " in 2008 . In his analysis of Michigan Wolverines head coach Rich Rodriguez , Holtz stated sarcastically , " Ya know , Hitler was a great leader , too . " The next day , Holtz apologized for the comment during halftime of a game between Clemson and Georgia Tech . Personal life . Holtz married Beth Barcus on July 22 , 1961 . They are parents of four children , three of whom are Notre Dame graduates . Their eldest son , Skip , is the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University . Holtz is on the Catholic Advisory Board of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds , and gives motivational speeches . Coach Holtz is a member at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta , Georgia . Holtz is a devout Roman Catholic and was a guest on the Blessed2Play radio show where he discussed his career and faith life with host Ron Meyer . Listen to the Blessed2Play interview here http : / / blessed2play . com / show - archives / page / 2 . Holtz also spoke to the National Catholic Register in 2012 : http : / / www . ncregister . com / daily - news / lou - holtz - finds - more - happiness - in - church - than - on - the - football - field / Holtz has long been active in Republican Party politics , including his support for Helms , hosting former Vice President Dan Quayle in a 1999 fundraising tour , speaking at a 2007 House Republicans strategy meeting and considering entering the Republican primary for a Congressional seat in Florida in 2009 . However , he also made a large contribution to the campaign of Democratic Party Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2008 . He often appears on " Hannity " on the Fox News Channel . Holtz appeared as himself in a Discover Card commercial in November 2011 . Honors . Holtz was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame on May 22 , 2011 . On April 19 , 2012 , Holtz was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame . Holtz was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Education from the University of South Carolina on December 17 , 2012 . Head coaching record . College . Source :