That’s certainly one way to rally the troops, so to speak. The late coach Lou Holtz was known for his larger-than-life personality and charismatic charm, and he sadly passed away on March 4th.
The 89-year-old had reportedly been in hospice care for the past couple of weeks, and the family shared the following statement along with the news of his passing:
“Louis Leo ‘Lou’ Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America’s most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family…
Holtz is remembered for his enduring values of faith, family, service, and an unwavering belief in the potential of others. His influence extended far beyond the football field through the Holtz Charitable Foundation and the many players, colleagues, and communities shaped by his leadership.”
The college football coach was one of the most influential and respected figures in all of sports. His 50-plus year coaching career included stints at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, South Carolina, and most notably, Notre Dame. Holtz spent a decade with the Fighting Irish, and won the 1988 National Championship while he was in South Bend, Indiana.
Louis Leo “Lou” Holtz, legendary college football coach, Hall of Famer, bestselling author, and one of America’s most influential motivational voices, has passed away at the age of 89 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family. Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia,…
— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) March 4, 2026
And yesterday, his son, Skip, posted a photo from the funeral, thanking everyone for attending and made the walk in the wind and snow to honor the life of his late father:
Thank you to everyone who attended the Funeral and made the walk. It was cold, windy and snowing but it was a special moment in the Holtz Family life. pic.twitter.com/cbel3ZFPZE
— Skip Holtz (@CoachSHoltz) March 18, 2026
It was this post that led Dale Earnhardt Jr. to respond, revealing that he had invited Lou to come speak to his own late father’s company, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, following tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt in 2001.
Of course, the entire company was devastated, and Jr. wanted to do something to help them all hone their “mental toughness.” Holtz was a renowned motivational speaker as well, and so it’s neat to hear that he was the one Jr. though of during such a tragic time in his life and everyone at DEI.
Jr. added that he got them “fired up” and helped them “realize the opportunity” they had in front them, adding that it was “a huge help to us all”:
“When my dad passed in 2001 our entire company was devastated. I wondered how best to empower our employees and our own mental toughness. So I invited Lou to come speak.
He got us fired up and helped us realize the opportunity we had in front of us. It was a huge help to us all.”
It’s a really sweet and special memory, and I only wish we could hear everything he had to say:
When my dad passed in 2001 our entire company was devastated. I wondered how best to empower our employees and our own mental toughness. So I invited Lou to come speak. He got us fired up and helped us realize the opportunity we had in front of us. It was a huge help to us all.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 19, 2026
