Coach Holtz said it

These were collected on CoachHoltz.com during his first seasons at South Carolina, each with the moment it came from.

At the press conference to announce his hiring, a reporter asked Coach Holtz how long he planned on staying (at Carolina):

I’ll stay as long as I have to, until I answer all of your (the media’s) questions.

At a mid-December press conference, Coach Holtz was asked about his impressions of the state of South Carolina. While he praised the Palmetto State for its beauty and generally pleasing overall environment, his comments about the trash and litter on the state’s highways prompted government officials to launch an anti-litter campaign:

We must have the cleanest cars in America…because all of the trash is out along the highways.

When Coach Holtz announced that Buddy Pough would be kept on as a member of his staff, a reporter was curious to know what Buddy’s title would be:

I think we’ll call him coach.

His thoughts on athletes remaining in state to attend college:

Our young athletes need to look at this (choice of staying in state) as a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision.

On Carolina having to face Tennessee and Florida in back-to-back SEC games at the end of every season:

I don’t know what they are paying us to play those games, but I doubt if the guarantees will cover hospital bills.

After seeing his team go through its first contact drills of spring practice, Coach Holtz was not pleased with the squad’s tackling performance:

I told our team we either must improve our tackling, or we need to find some way to get it outlawed.

When asked about his team’s depth situation during spring practice, Coach Holtz replied:

We could never get on Noah’s Ark … we don’t have two of anything.

Coach Holtz’s infamous list of 107 things he wants to accomplish during his lifetime actually originated during his days (1966-67) as an assistant coach at South Carolina. He divided his goals into different categories, including personal, professional, family, etc. While he says he has accomplished nearly every goal, there are still a handful that he has yet to experience, including:

I haven’t been on an African Safari. I’ve taken a camera to the zoo before, but I don’t think that counts. And, I’m still looking for someone slower than me so I can run with the bulls at Pamplona.

On recounting the story of wrestling with the decision to accept the Carolina job and get back into coaching:

I went back and forth with my decision. One day, I thought I would get away from everything, so I went and played golf. Man, did I play poorly. I had to quit after eight holes, I played so bad. I said to myself, ‘if I’m going to play this bad, maybe it’s time to get back to coaching.’ I went back and discussed the situation with my wife and decided to take the job. I went out and played the next day and played great.

His thoughts on living in a college town and being around young people:

I don’t think there’s a better environment than a university setting. I don’t want to live in a place where the average age is deceased. I want to be involved.

Keep his legacy going

The Holtz Foundation carries Lou’s work forward through scholarships and other giving. A donation helps his example keep reaching people.

Donate to the Holtz Foundation

Where it started

The Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame in East Liverpool, Ohio, honors the people of the valley he grew up in.

Visit the Hall of Fame