Lou Holtz, who led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a national championship and built one of the most respected résumés in college football history, passed away on Wednesday at his home in Florida.

Holtz died at age 89 in Orlando, according to a statement released by Notre Dame on behalf of his family, which said he was surrounded by loved ones. His death marks the passing of one of the most accomplished and influential coaches in the modern era of the sport.

Over a 33-year head coaching career, Holtz compiled a 249-132-7 record and won 12 bowl games. He spent 11 seasons at Notre Dame, where he posted a 100-30-2 mark in 132 games. His 1988 team finished 12-0 and secured a national title with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl, cementing his legacy in South Bend.

The university’s president, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, praised Holtz as a leader and mentor who shaped generations of student-athletes both on and off the field.

Beyond Notre Dame, Holtz coached at Arkansas for seven seasons and at South Carolina for six, leading the Gamecocks to back-to-back Outback Bowl wins in 2000 and 2001. He also held head coaching positions at William & Mary and other programs after beginning his career as a graduate assistant at Iowa.

Born in West Virginia in 1937 and raised in Ohio, Holtz played college football at Kent State before entering coaching. His career spanned decades of change in the sport, and he remained a prominent voice in college athletics long after retiring from the sidelines.

Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2020, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump, recognizing his contributions to the game and his influence beyond it.

He is survived by his four children.