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Several prominent Republican congressional lawmakers and other top officials across the country shared their condolences following the death of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz on Wednesday.
GOP lawmakers who spoke included Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Todd Young, R-Ind., Tom Cotton, R-Ark. and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Reps. Greg Murphy, R-N.C. David Rouzer, R-N.C., Erin Houchin, R-Ind., Steve Womack, R-Ark., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Rudy Giuliani.
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At the time of publication, prominent Democratic leaders remained silent on Holtz’s passing, including prominent Democrats with football backgrounds.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who worked as a high school assistant football coach, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who was a recruiting target for Holtz in 1986 as a college prospect, Rep. Colin Allred, Democrat of Texas, who played in the NFL, and Rep. Kam Buckner, Democrat of Illinois, who played football for the University of Illinois, all have not issued messages acknowledging Holtz’s death.
PK Press Club Digital has contacted the offices of Waltz, Booker, Allred and Buckner for comment.
Lou Holtz, who spent 33 years leading teams including Notre Dame fighting the Irishdied Wednesday. He was 89 years old.
The football team released a statement from Holtz’s family, saying he died surrounded by family at his home in Orlando. Florida.
“Louis Leo ‘Lou’ Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, best-selling author and one of America’s most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family,” the statement said.
“Born on January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected figures in college athletics.
“During a remarkable five-decade career, he led college programs at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He transformed every team he inherited and won the 1988 national championship with the Fighting Irish. Holtz was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Beth, with whom he shared a life built on faith, dedication and service.”
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Arkansas Razorbacks walks the sidelines as his team faces the Oklahoma Sooner in the 1978 Orange Bowl on January 2, 1978 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photos by Rich Clarkson/NCAA via Getty Images)
Holtz reportedly entered hospice care in late January.
Holtz was the first coach in NCAA history to take 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 he failed to accomplish this feat with was Minnesota, which he managed from 1984 to 1985.
In recent years, Holtz has been a strong supporter of the president Donald Trumpeven asserting in February 2024 that Trump must “make America great again!” »
Towards the end of Trump’s first term, shortly after former President Joe Biden After defeating him in the 2020 election, Trump awarded Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
“I will say this about Lou: Everybody loves him,” Trump said at the ceremony in December 2020. “Everybody respects him. He’s tough as hell, and yet they all respect Lou. They — it’s just amazing. They love him and they respect him. Sometimes it’s a combination that doesn’t go together, you know? They respect, but you’re — you’re something. ‘I’ve never coached football, I’ve coached life.’ he said. And it’s true. His players always loved him.”
Head coach Lou Holtz of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches from the sidelines during an NCAA football game against the Stanford Cardinal on October 7, 1989, at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (David Madison/Getty Images)
Holtz, who also spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, was humbled by the honor.
“This is the greatest honor or award you can receive, and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m honored,” Holtz said.Fox and friends” next. “There are many more worthy people than me, I can assure you.
“Nobody is more grateful than me. So I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and, at the same time, I’m thrilled to receive it from President Trump. The president that I admire and respect. I think he’s done a tremendous job.”
At the time, Holtz also called Trump “one of the great presidents of my lifetime.”
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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