Former University of South Carolina head football coach Lou Holtz has entered hospice care. Multiple news outlets report Holtz began receiving care Thursday.
His son, Kevin Holtz, shared the news Friday in a social media post, writing in part, “The Holtz family shares the difficult news that our father, Coach Lou Holtz, is presently facing a health challenge. While this is a challenging time, our focus is on maintaining his comfort, quality of life, and care in his Orlando home.”The
family also asked for privacy and thanked supporters for their thoughts and prayers, closing the message with a passage from Psalm 41:3.
Holtz spent five seasons at South Carolina, leading the Gamecocks to back-to-back Outback Bowl victories in 2001 and 2002.
Before his time in Columbia, Holtz coached 12 seasons at Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to a national championship in 1988.
His long coaching career also included stops at William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, and one season in the NFL as head coach of the New York Jets.
In 2020 Lou Holtz was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump, recognizing his contributions as a "life teacher" and coach with 249 wins.