Lou Holtz controversy: Why Notre Dame once distanced itself from Holtz as his remarks on Joe Biden still divide people

The death of beloved football coach Lou Holtz has sparked an old debate online, as old political remarks by the legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach about Joe Biden resurfaced following news of his passing.

Lou Holtz, the iconic college football coach who led University of Notre Dame’s Notre Dame football program to the 1988 national championship, died at the age of 89. His family confirmed the news on X, saying he passed away in Orlando “surrounded by family.”



The Lou Holtz cause of death has not been officially disclosed, though reports said the former coach had been in hospice care since January.

Also Read: Lou Holtz death: Legendary Notre Dame football coach dies at 89 ‘surrounded by family’

Internet revisits Lou Holtz past remarks on Joe Biden

As Lou Holtz news of his passing spread online, some social media users began sharing an old video from the 2020 Republican National Convention where Holtz criticized Biden and Kamala Harris over abortion and faith.

At the virtual 2020 Republican National Convention, Holtz questioned Biden’s Catholic identity. “One of the important reasons [President Donald Trump] has my trust is because nobody is but a stronger advocate for the unborn than President Trump,” Holtz said. “The Biden-Harris ticket is the most radically pro-abortion campaign in history. They and other politicians are Catholics in name only and abandon innocent lives. President Trump protects those lives. I trust President Trump.”


Some people got furious at the remarks because Joe Biden, a practicing Catholic, has often spoken about the central role faith has played in his life. Biden is known to carry rosary beads in his pocket and has said he leaned on his faith after personal tragedies, including the 1972 car accident that killed his wife and infant daughter and the 2015 death of his son Beau Biden from brain cancer.

Also Read: Lou Holtz’s newspaper trick video goes viral after death; Legendary college football coach, who led unbeaten Notre Dame to title in 1988, dies at 89

Social media reactions divided after Lou Holtz death

As news of Lou Holtz’s death spread online, reactions on social media quickly revealed a deeply divided response to the video about Joe Biden. Some users paid tribute to the late coach following the Lou Holtz death. One user wrote, “ he's going to be missed. He was a winner all the time, even if he didn't actually win, because winning is more than results; it's attitude.” Another wrote simply, “God bless you Coach RIP..,” while another added, “Rest in Peace.”

Others, however, criticized Holtz’s political positions and comments about Joe Biden and faith. One user responded bluntly, “And attacked women’s reproductive rights.” Another wrote, “It's not his or anyone's place to asess someone else's Catholicism,” referring to Holtz’s past remarks during the 2020 Republican National Convention.


Some critics went further, questioning his views on politics and religion. One comment read, “Yep! If you wanna be reeeaaaalllly good at something - even coaching football - you give up all hope of even a minimal understanding of anything else, Lou. Like politics, for example.”

'Never question the sincerity of another’s faith,' Notre Dame posted

Notre Dame quickly distanced itself from Lou Holtz’s remarks by stressing that he did not speak for the university and that his comments about Joe Biden’s faith were out of step with its values. Fr. John Jenkins wrote that “while Coach Lou Holtz is a former coach at Notre Dame, his use of the University’s name at the Republican National Convention must not be taken to imply that the University endorses his views, any candidate, or any political party.”

He then grounded the university’s stance in Catholic teaching, saying, “we Catholics should remind ourselves that while we may judge the objective moral quality of another’s actions, we must never question the sincerity of another’s faith, which is due to the mysterious working of grace in that person’s heart.” Framing the moment as part of a wider climate of division, he concluded, “In this fractious time, let us remember that our highest calling is to love.”