BREAKING: Lou Holtz, legendary college football coach, dead at 89

Legendary football coach and ESPN analyst Lou Holtz died on Wednesday at the age of 89, according to his family.

Holtz is best known for having led Notre Dame to its national championship in 1988. He went 249-132-7 in his 33 seasons coaching college football and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” said University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd. "Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime."

Current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman added in a statement that Lou's impact at the school goes beyond the football field, saying, "He and his wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carry out Notre Dame's mission."

Following his tenure as a football coach, Holtz worked as a sports analyst for ESPN from 2005 to 2015.

In recent years Holtz was politically active, having campaigned alongside President Donald Trump. Holtz joined Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2020. He also gave remarks at the Republican National Convention that same year.

In December of 2020, President Trump awarded Holtz the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"America recognizes Lou Holtz as one of the greatest football coaches of all time for his unmatched accomplishments on the gridiron, but he is also a philanthropist, author, and true American patriot," the White House said in a statement at the time.

This is a breaking story.