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March 17, 2008

Former Irish head football coach Lou Holtz, who led Notre Dame to its last national championship on the gridiron in 1988, will receive the 2008 Moose Krause Distinguished Service Award during the Monogram Club's Annual Meeting April 17 at the Joyce Center Arena.

Currently an ESPN studio analyst for the network's college football coverage, Holtz and his wife Beth founded the Holtz Charitable Foundation in 1998. The program is committed to promoting Christianity, education and charity and has awarded grants to many non-profit organizations that support its mission. The Holtz Charitable Foundation has provided important funding to several causes including trade scholarships, homeless centers and Christian ministries. The homeless shelter in Columbia, S.C., was named after Lou and Beth in December 2003, and both have been instrumental in helping the Center for the Homeless in South Bend.

The Holtz Charitable Foundation is also a part of the Notre Dame Coaches for Charity fundraiser, an annual event which also benefits Hannah and Friends and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation.

Holtz spent 11 seasons at Notre Dame and guided the Irish to an overall record of 100-30-2 as well to nine straight New Year's Day bowl games. Five of his Notre Dame teams finished at least sixth in the final Associated Press Poll. He ranks second to Knute Rockne in total football coaching victories.

Holtz, who also served as the head football coach at William and Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina, compiled a 249-133-7 mark during 33 seasons as a head coach.

-- ND --