Feb. 18, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame Monogram Club will present former Irish head football coach Lou Holtz with the 2008 Moose Krause Distinguished Service Award. The presentation will coincide with the Monogram Club Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for April 17-19.
Holtz coached 132 games in 11 seasons at Notre Dame and guided his teams to an overall record of 100-30-2 as he holds the Irish record for most games coached and is second to Knute Rockne in total victories. He led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and remains 11th on the NCAA all-time win list for Division I-A coaches. Holtz took his Notre Dame teams to nine straight New Year’s Day bowl games from 1987 through ’95 and coached the Irish to finishes of sixth or better in the final Associated Press poll in five seasons.
Holtz was named the national coach of the year in 1988 by several organizations and saw his team play the most difficult schedule in the country three different years. Holtz had a 32-20-2 mark against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25 during his career with the Irish.
Before coming to Notre Dame, the Kent State graduate previously served as head coach at William & Mary (1969-71), North Carolina State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83) and Minnesota (1984-85). He served as a college football analyst for CBS Sports in 1997 and ’98 before serving as head football coach at the University of South Carolina from 1999 to 2004. Holtz compiled a 33-37 record with the Gamecocks in six seasons at the helm of the program before retiring from coaching at the end of the 2004 season.
Upon retirement, Holtz joined ESPN as a studio analyst for its college football coverage, a position he still holds today.
In 33 seasons as a college head coach, Holtz compiled a record of 249 wins, 133 losses and seven ties for a winning percentage of .651.
Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis has graciously agreed to join the Monogram Club for the 2008 dinner and will assist in the presentation to Holtz.
The weekend’s events have been slightly altered from past years. Thursday will begin with a Mass dedicated to the Monogram Club’s deceased members. The club will then gather for its annual meeting and dinner, which includes presentation of the Monogram Club’s Moose Krause Award (recognizing distinguished service) and honorary monograms plus the introduction of the new members of the board of directors.
Tee-times for golf will be available for Monogram Club members at both the Warren Golf Course and Burke Golf Course. Members must contact the courses to schedule reservations. Members are then encouraged to attend the Notre Dame’s men’s lacrosse match against Quinnipiac. Face-off has yet to be determined.
The final day of the weekend will include the Blue-Gold Fan Fest (10:30am – 1:30pm, Joyce Parking Lot), Football Alumni Flag Game (11:30am – 12:15pm, ND Stadium) and Blue-Gold Spring Football Game (1:30pm, ND Stadium).
— ND —