Lou Holtz’s son shares latest on legendary coach in response to rumors
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Lou Holtz is still with us, his son Skip Holtz shared on Sunday in response to rumors of the legendary coach’s passing.
On Saturday, many fans and former football players paid tribute to Lou Holtz. The legendary coach recently entered hospice care. Skip Holtz, however, says in a social media that the RIP posts are premature, as his father is still “fighting the fight.” The younger Hotlz acknowledged that the family doesn’t know how much time his father has left.
Appreciate everyone’s text and prayers.
— Skip Holtz (@CoachSHoltz) February 1, 2026
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. pic.twitter.com/1JD6IkaE4L
Kyle Sutherland, the publisher of Hawg Beat, also addressed Saturday’s rumors to confirm Lou Holtz had not passed away.
Rumors that Coach Holtz has passed away are NOT true as of 10:35 p.m. CT on 1/31/26.
— Kyle Sutherland (@k_sutherlandAR) February 1, 2026
Per source, "Coach is actually feeling better." https://t.co/xI8YWrLn0B
Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He had a 249-132-7 record as a college football head coach. As a college football head coach, Holtz is best known for leading Notre Dame from 1986-96, guiding the Irish to the 1988 national championship.
He’s known to SEC fans for tenures at Arkansas and South Carolina. Holtz coached the Razorbacks in their pre-SEC days, 1977-83. His last coaching job came with the Gamecocks from 1999-2004. Holtz was named the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1979 and the SEC Coach of the Year in 2000.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
