Lou Holtz Named Football Coach at Notre Dame

Lou Holtz of Minnesota today was named to succeed Gerry Faust as football coach at Notre Dame, raising hopes that the luck of the Irish will return after five disappointing seasons.

Notre Dame officials announced Holtz’s selection one day after Faust, who has lost more games than any other Notre Dame coach, announced that he will step down after the team’s final game Saturday at Miami.

Holtz, 49 and a devout Roman Catholic whose son Skip attends Notre Dame, has the experience and success Notre Dame officials said they were seeking. His record is 116-65-5 in 15 years as a college head coach at Minnesota, Arkansas, North Carolina State and William and Mary, and he has taken teams to bowl games 11 times.

Holtz’s 6-5 Gophers are bound for a Dec. 21 meeting with Clemson in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.