Lou Holtz, ’59, one of the most successful college football coaches of all time, proudly received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump in December.
Holtz is the only coach in the history of collegiate football who took six different teams to a bowl game, won five bowl games with different teams and had four college teams ranked in the final Top 20 poll.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Kent State University and a master's degree in arts and education from Iowa. Read about Holtz’s Kent State experiences excerpted from a 2010 interview:
What did you like most about Kent State?
The teachers, coaches and people all made up a friendly campus. I left with a lifetime of memories. At my age, I still feel I would rather have memories than my youth.
Favorite place to hang out, on or around campus:
Brady Café during the day, and Ray’s, Venus and Rathskeller at night. On campus, the gym. I played basketball all winter. At the Student Union, the 10 a.m. group would meet and talk and have crossword puzzle contests.
Favorite campus activity and why:
Delta Upsilon Fraternity. They were like my family. Great friends, great social life and you learned you had obligations and responsibilities. Family doesn’t mean you have the same last name or the same address. It means you have the same core values.
Kent Sate person who influenced you the most:
All coaches and teachers – Rick Forzano, Frank Smouse, Trevor Rees – my football coaches. Dr. Phillip Shriver, Dr. Roberts, Dr. Kaplan, all history teachers. Dr. Schumacher, physical science professor.
Congratulations Coach Holtz on your recent honor and a lifetime of achievement.