The former Notre Dame head coach is being given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump.
Former Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz has been in the college football spotlight, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
With the Big Ten, Pac-12, MAC and Mountain West postponing their fall seasons due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Holtz boisterously said on a FOX News interview that student-athletes should play, ludicrously comparing them to young soldiers who stormed Normandy in World War II, for some reason.
Then, he made an appearance at the Republican National Convention last week, where he made insensitive comments about Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden’s faith. But now, he’s being rewarded by the man he endorsed for the Nov. 3 presidential election, Donald Trump.
During a press briefing on Friday, Trump pointed to Holtz sitting on the side of the James S. Brady Briefing Room and announced that he’s giving the former football coach the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a United States civilian can receive. The date of the ceremony is to be determined.
After a controversial week, Lou Holtz gets awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump
This announcement by Trump comes a week after Holtz attacked Biden, calling him a “Catholic in name only.” These comments offended many, so much so that Notre Dame distanced themselves from Holtz and scolded him for questioning someone else’s faith. Even so, Trump decided to honor whom he calls a longtime friend.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to “individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” via the White House’s official website.
Holtz won’t be the first sports figure to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom under the Trump presidency. Mariano Rivera, Tiger Woods, Jerry West, Roger Staubach, Bob Cousy, Jim Hyun and Roger Penske have also gotten this medal.
After taking on head coaching stints with Arkansas and Minnesota, Holtz was hired to coach Notre Dame in 1986. His tenure coaching the Fighting Irish lasted 11 seasons, where he accumulated a 100-32 record. In 1988, Holtz led the Fighting Irish to a perfect 12-0 record, culminating in the team winning the National Championship against West Virginia.