Holtz's Heroes Foundation

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Holtz’s Heroes Foundation, Inc. What is Holtz’s Heroes? Why do we need Holtz’s Heroes? Many requests will come from local fans and supporters.

is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and extending the legacy of Love, Trust, and Commitment exemplified by Coach Lou Holtz and his players, coaches, and staff. HHFhas been built to support and& preserve the legacy of Coach Lou Holtz and his players. HHF will serve as a collective platform for its members to maintain the "close-knit" element, while providing a continual call to arms through the following:

HHF Scholarship Fund
To serve deserving underprivileged students (and legacies)
HHF Estate Fund
Contributing fund for family of passing member
Online interactive network
Private "members only" networking features. Louslads.com will serve as a central hub for all marketing, licensing, and promotions (blogs & interviews) related to its members. What are the fundraising opportunities? Sponsored Annual Celebrity Golf event
Sponsored Annual Network & Business retreat
Annual fall ND home game weekend and Charity Dinner

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween!
Go Irish!!

10/23/2026

"I never had the privilege to play or to work for Coach Holtz, but I did have the privilege to be influenced by him. I always said leadership is influenced, and Coach Holtz influenced me in many different ways.
The ultimate sign of a leader is how you lead during tough times and that's who Coach Holtz was for me. We had many conversations, but he would always call me every Sunday after a loss. And those conversations are the ones that I'll remember."
-Coach Marcus Freeman

10/14/2026

Ever want a peek behind the curtain seeing Coach Holtz work his magic? Tickets are sure to move quickly so grab yours today. Everyone that buys a ticket to the premiere can come to the opening night after party at the Studebaker museum too.

https://tickets.dynastysportsfilmfestival.com/events/dynastysportsfilmfestival/2346033

10/09/2026

Beth and Lou Holtz believed in the transformative power of education and the lasting impact it can have on generations to come.

Holtz’s Heroes and the Holtz family reunited in the Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room at Notre Dame’s Hesburgh Library—a meaningful place that reflects their commitment to education, faith, and opportunity.

What a blessing to come together, share stories, celebrate their remarkable legacy, and reflect on the lives they touched. Through their example, Beth and Lou continue to inspire us and guide the mission of Holtz’s Heroes.

We remain forever grateful for the legacy of Beth and Lou Holtz.

Love, Trust, Commitment.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Coach Niele Ivey, recipient of the 2026 Holtz’s Heroes Foundation Trust Award.

Coach Holtz always taught us to begin with one simple question: “Can I trust you?” The Trust Award recognizes someone whose integrity, character and reliability give others confidence — someone whose life answers that question with a resounding YES.

Niele has been answering that question for Notre Dame for nearly three decades.

From the moment she arrived in South Bend as a freshman and member of the Notre Dame women’s basketball team, Niele brought grit, determination and a commitment to excellence. She helped lead the Irish to the 2001 national championship as a player, returned as an assistant coach and helped build a program that reached multiple Final Fours and captured the 2018 national championship.

After coaching in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, Niele returned home to Notre Dame as head coach, continuing to develop student-athletes and carry forward the championship standard she helped establish.

But Niele is not receiving the Trust Award simply because she wins. She is receiving it because of how she leads.

Her players know she will challenge them, prepare them and hold them accountable — but they also know she believes in them and genuinely cares about them. That trust goes both ways.

Following Notre Dame’s 2026 Elite Eight appearance, Hannah Hidalgo captured that relationship perfectly when she said, “I trust Coach Ivey.” Then she added, “She trusts me.”

There may be no greater compliment a coach can receive.

Niele, you embody the values this award represents: integrity, consistency, courage and care. You have represented Notre Dame with class, carried forward a championship tradition and earned the trust of countless student-athletes along the way.

Congratulations, Coach Ivey!

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Lou Perry, recipient of the 2026 Holtz’s Heroes Foundation Lou Holtz Award, the highest honor presented by the Foundation.

The award recognizes someone who embodies all three of the values Coach Holtz worked so hard to instill: Trust, Love and Commitment.

Lou Perry knew Lou Holtz long before the rest of the world knew him as “Coach.” The two were teammates and roommates at Kent State, where Lou Perry was a starting receiver and led the team in receiving in 1959.

He had a front-row seat to the beginning of Coach Holtz’s remarkable calling. Even as a player, teammates would turn to Lou Holtz on the sideline when they needed help or guidance.

Most importantly, Lou Perry remained Coach Holtz’s loyal friend and trusted confidant for more than six decades — through the years of coaching, championships and everything that followed.

Lou went on to become an engineering leader at Firestone and later built a successful engineering company with his wife, Joan. Together, they have devoted themselves to their family, Catholic faith, education, charitable service and helping others.

Lou has also been a quiet and extraordinarily generous supporter of Holtz’s Heroes. He never sought recognition. He simply remained committed to his friend and to ensuring that the values they shared would continue to change lives through the Foundation.

Trust in a lifelong friendship. Love demonstrated through service. Commitment to people and principles over generations.

Lou Perry has lived all three.

Congratulations, Lou, on receiving the 2026 Lou Holtz Award and on a lifetime of friendship, faith, service and commitment.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Jennifer Hall, recipient of the 2026 Holtz’s Heroes Foundation Beth Holtz Award.

Jenn’s Notre Dame story began long before many of us realized how closely our lives would eventually become connected. A summer school roommate of Angie Mayes, Jenn later interned in the Notre Dame football office, where she met Justin Hall.

Jenn and Justin married, settled in Sacramento and raised three wonderful children — Jake, Caleb and Abi. Alongside her professional career, Jenn has consistently found ways to serve others, mentoring women overcoming homelessness, leading volunteer and concussion-safety programs in youth football, supporting Catholic education and helping raise significant scholarship assistance for students.

In 2017, Jenn and her children experienced the devastating loss of Justin.

Through unimaginable circumstances, Jenn demonstrated extraordinary strength, resilience and faith. She continued to lead her family with love, trust and commitment, creating a home where her children could speak openly about their father, confront difficult questions and always remember the good he brought to the world as a father, teacher, coach, counselor and teammate.

Today, Justin’s spirit and legacy continue through Jenn and their three children. Jake has spoken courageously about mental health and his father’s legacy. Caleb now plays offensive line at the University of Wyoming wearing No. 73 — the same number his father wore at Notre Dame.

Jenn, your faith, service, strength and devotion to your family embody everything this award represents.

Congratulations on this very special honor.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Cornelius “Corny” Southall, recipient of the 2026 Holtz’s Heroes Foundation Brogan Award.

The Brogan Award honors a member of Holtz’s Heroes who lives by a simple principle: team first. It recognizes someone who does what is right, strengthens those around him and measures leadership not by the attention he receives, but by the difference he makes.

Corny Southall has embodied that philosophy throughout his life. A member of Notre Dame’s 1988 National Championship team, Corny went on to serve more than 27 years in the United States Secret Service, selflessly protecting presidents and their families while doing critically important work outside the spotlight.

He brought that same servant leadership to Holtz’s Heroes, serving as president, president emeritus and continuing to contribute as a member of the Executive Committee. During his tenure as president, Corny also helped strengthen the Foundation’s relationship with Steve Brogan and Jones Day, creating support that has helped Holtz’s Heroes host events across the country.

For Corny, being a teammate never ended when the final whistle blew. His commitment to the Bobby Satterfield Fund and his continued service to Holtz’s Heroes reflect the belief Coach Holtz instilled in all of us: teammates take care of one another.

A national champion, protector, mentor and friend — always putting the team first.

Congratulations, Corny, on this well-deserved honor.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Notre Dame Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan, recipient of the 2026 Holtz’s Heroes Foundation Commitment Award.

The Commitment Award recognizes someone whose dedication, perseverance and pursuit of excellence remain steadfast regardless of circumstances or the time it takes to achieve the goal.

When Coach Corrigan arrived at Notre Dame in 1988, the men’s lacrosse program had never reached the NCAA Tournament. Over nearly four decades, he transformed the program into one of the premier programs in the country.

Under his leadership, Notre Dame has won conference championships, made numerous appearances at championship weekend and captured the first two national championships in program history in 2023 and 2024. This past spring, the Irish returned to the national championship game.

But Coach Corrigan’s commitment is about much more than championships. His program has been built on toughness, humility, discipline, character and community. His former players speak about receiving the full Notre Dame experience and being prepared not only for lacrosse, but for life.

Coach Holtz believed excellence was the result of doing the right things every day, whether anyone was watching or not. Coach Corrigan has lived that commitment for nearly 40 years.

Congratulations, Coach Corrigan, and thank you for the lasting impact you have made on generations of Notre Dame student-athletes.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Derrick Mayes, recipient of the 2026 Holtz’s Heroes Foundation Love Award.

Coach Holtz taught us that you cannot build a successful team unless people genuinely care about one another’s success. The Love Award honors someone who lives that lesson by creating a sense of compassion, unity and belonging — reminding us that no teammate should ever have to walk alone.

Derrick arrived at Notre Dame in 1992 as a classmate and teammate, and went on to become a team captain, All-American, Notre Dame’s career leader in receiving yards and touchdown catches, a second-round NFL draft pick and a Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers.

But Derrick’s greatest impact extends far beyond the football field. He was one of the founding members of Lou’s Lads, the organization that ultimately became Holtz’s Heroes. From the beginning, he believed in taking care of teammates and their families, honoring Coach Holtz and using the opportunities we were given to serve others.

Congratulations, Derrick, and thank you for helping build the family that continues to make Holtz’s Heroes so special.

Address

Notre Dame, IN

Website

http://HoltzsHeroes.org/

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