President Donald Trump has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz.
The ceremony took place in the Oval Office on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump speaks before awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired football coach Lou Holtz (L) on Dec. 3, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Holtz spent 34 years coaching NCAA and professional football after serving as an officer in the United States Army Reserve for seven years. Holtz successfully coached teams including North Carolina State, the University of Arkansas, the New York Jets, the University of Minnesota and the University of South Carolina. He was most well-known for his 11-year stint at Notre Dame, where he snagged a 100-30-2 record, as noted in the White House statement on the award. (RELATED: President Donald Trump To Award Presidential Medal Of Freedom To Former Football Coach Lou Holtz)
“It’s the highest honor or award you could possibly receive and I receive it with mixed emotions. First of all, I’m humbled,” Holtz told host Brian Kilmeade on “Fox & Friends.” “There are many more people far worthy than me I can assure you. Nobody is more appreciative than me. So, I’m excited to have this opportunity and at the same time, I’m excited to receive it from President Trump. The president I admire and respect. I think he did a tremendous job.”
US President Donald Trump speaks before awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired football coach Lou Holtz (L) on Dec. 3, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
“I’m sad he’s not going to be with us for another four years because he has done so much for this country and he really cares about it so I stand here very proudly to accept this award from President Trump,” he added, according to Fox.
WATCH: