SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 690
WHEREAS, In an exceptional career that spanned more than
four decades Lou Holtz distinguished himself as one of the top
coaches in college football; and
WHEREAS, A native of West Virginia and a graduate of East
Liverpool High School in Ohio, Lou Holtz earned a bachelor's
degree at Kent State University, where he was a linebacker for
two seasons before an injury ended his playing career; he began
coaching as an assistant for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team in
1960, and he later served in that role at the College of William
and Mary, the University of Connecticut, the University of South
Carolina, and Ohio State University; and
WHEREAS, His work as a head coach began in 1969 at William
and Mary; after directing the North Carolina State University
program from 1972 to 1975, he joined the NFL to helm the New York
Jets for the 1976 season; the following year, he returned to NCAA
football with the University of Arkansas, and he went on to coach
at the University of Minnesota before beginning his outstanding
11-year run at Notre Dame; he closed out his career with the South
Carolina Gamecocks from 1999 to 2004; and
WHEREAS, Coach Holtz compiled nearly 250 wins as a college
head coach, and at the time of his retirement, he was ranked third
in victories among active coaches and eighth in winning
percentage; he took teams to more than 20 NCAA bowl games, and he
reached the pinnacle of success in 1988, when the Fighting Irish
clinched the national championship after compiling a perfect
12-0 record; other highlights include winning conference titles
with the College of William and Mary in 1970, North Carolina
State in 1973, and Arkansas in 1979; today, he remains the only
college football coach to have ever piloted six different
programs to bowl games, to have won bowl games with five
different teams, or to have led four separate schools to Top 20
finishes; and
WHEREAS, Widely revered for his contributions to the game,
Coach Holtz has been the recipient of a host of accolades; in both
1977 and 1988, he earned three prestigious honors: the Paul
"Bear" Bryant Award, the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award,
and Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year Award;
moreover, he was presented with the 1972 Atlantic Coast
Conference Coach of the Year Award, the 1977 Walter Camp Coach of
the Year Award, and the 2000 Southeastern Conference Coach of the
Year Award; in recognition of his many achievements, he was
inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008; and
WHEREAS, The tremendous passion, leadership, and vision
that Lou Holtz brought to each of the football teams he guided
continues to inspire generations of athletes and football fans
alike, and his accomplishments are indeed deserving of special
recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby honor Lou Holtz for his exemplary career as a
coach and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Coach Holtz as an expression of high regard by the
Texas Senate.
Fallon
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 3, 2019.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate