Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, a pro-life advocate, has died

Lou Holtz, the legendary Hall of Fame college football coach known for leading an undefeated Notre Dame to the National Championship in 1988, died last week at the age of 89. He was a devout Catholic and a pro-life advocate. A post to his X account states in part that Holtz "was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Beth, with whom he shared a life grounded in faith, devotion, and service.... He is survived by his four children, nine grandchildren, and two great‑grandchildren."

Key Takeaways:

• Lou Holtz, legendary coach of college football, died on March 4, 2026, at the age of 89.

• Holtz was a devout Catholic who was vocal about his opposition to abortion.

• He inspired pro-lifers and spoke out against Catholics in politics who were pro-abortion, including former President Joe Biden.

The Details:

Holtz was well respected for his ability to take struggling college football teams and mold them into winners, leading six different college programs to bowl games in a career that spanned from 1969 to 2004. Off the field, he was respected as a Catholic husband and father of four who stood up for life.

In 2017, Holtz spoke at the annual spring banquet for Right to Life of Southwest Indiana. He told the 1,700 attendees, "One person decides, out of 4.4 million (abortions at the time). The father has no say, has no vote. And the baby has no vote, and that's why we're here! We are the vote for the baby. We've got to be the voice for the unborn — or nobody else will."

He added, "Ladies and gentlemen, don't talk about pro-life; live it. Be proud of it. Understand, what we're doing is so critical."

Lou Holtz

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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,

9:29 PM · Mar 4, 2026

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Holtz also famously spoke out against fellow Catholic Joe Biden's pro-abortion stance during the 2020 Republican National Convention. He said, "The Biden-Harris ticket is the most radically pro-abortion campaign in history. They and other politicians are Catholics in name only and abandoned innocent lives. President Trump protects those lives."

Holtz defended those statements a few days later when he told Fox News' Bill Hemmer:

"People have taught me that to murder an unborn child at nine months is illegal. That's not part of the Catholic faith," he said. "And Joe Biden — he may be a wonderful individual, I hear great things about him — I'm not casting aspersions on his character, his integrity, but I am casting aspersions on his decision."

He asked Hemmer:

"When he said that you can abort a baby at the nine month of pregnancy, and that's perfectly all right? No. By the way I was taught, the Catholic Church, that's not all right, and I'm going to speak up about it."

Why it Matters:

Pro-abortion celebrities are rarely afraid to share their support for abortion, but pro-life celebrities often keep their anti-abortion stance quiet for fear of repercussions.

Time and time again, pro-lifers get pushback for opposing the intentional killing of preborn babies. It's vital that famous individuals who want to take a stand for life follow Holtz's lead.