Lou Holtz Posts Cryptic Pro-Trump Message: ‘Coach America Back To Greatness!’

Lou Holtz, the dynasty-making football coach who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020, posted a short statement on X that has tongues wagging about whether he’ll be supporting former President Donald Trump in this year’s election.

“We need to coach America back to greatness!” the former Fighting Irish coach wrote on X. Followers pointed out his call to action was not dissimilar from President Trump’s iconic slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

We need to coach America back to greatness!

— Lou Holtz (@CoachLouHoltz88) February 22, 2024

Holtz, who spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention, was awarded with the Medal of Freedom by Trump later that year and has endorsed the former president in past elections.

“It’s the highest honor or award you could possibly receive, and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m humbled,” Holtz told Fox & Friends afterward. “There are many more people far worthy than me I can assure you. Nobody is more appreciative than me. So, I’m excited to have this opportunity and at the same time, I’m excited to receive it from President Trump. The president I admire and respect. I think he did a tremendous job.”

Calling Trump “one of the greatest presidents of my lifetime,” the 87-year-old added,  “I’m sad he’s not going to be with us for another four years because he has done so much for this country, and he really cares about it, so I stand here very proudly to accept this award from President Trump.”

During his time in college football, Holtz posted a remarkable 249–132–7 record across six teams, most notably Notre Dame and the University of Arkansas. His 1988 Irish were consensus national champions after an undefeated 12–0 season and routing the previously undefeated West Virginia Mountaineers at the Fiesta Bowl. Holtz’s team that year is still considered to be one of the best in history among college football.

Holtz’s own football career was brief, appearing as a linebacker at Kent State for the 1956-1957 season. Despite flourishing at the college level, his stint as an NFL coach left him with a 3–10 record with the New York Jets. Upon his departure, Holtz told reporters, “God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros.”

Despite pledging to retire after Notre Dame’s 1996 season, Holtz was convinced to return to lead the South Carolina Gamecocks. After a rebuilding year with unanimous losses, he posted an 8–4 record, earning the 2000 Coach of the Year Award for the third-fastest turnaround in NCAA history.

Now well into retirement, Holtz doesn’t shy away from making his Republican views known as an occasional guest on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program. He has criticized President Joe Biden as “Catholic in name only,” a view likely shared by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, and criticized the trend started by Colin Kaepernick of kneeling during the National Anthem at football games.