Lou Holtz To Receive Medal Of Freedom, Controversial Coach Compared Police Brutality To Speeding Ticket

The White House announced Wednesday that former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The honor appears to be due in large part to Holtz's conservative views and consistent praising of President Donald Trump.

Holtz, 83, has been vocal in his support of Republican politicians, criticizing both liberal political issues and basic COVID-19 safety measures. He will receive the Medal of Freedom on Thursday.

In a press release, the White House praised Holtz for his football career and philanthropy, calling him a “true American patriot.”

Holtz’s name quickly shot up trending lists on social media as people questioned why he was receiving the country's highest civilian honor.

In 2018, Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson, who is married to businessman and prominent Trump donor Sheldon Adelson. In the 2020 State of the Union Address, Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, a controversial right-wing radio personality.

It’s unknown exactly what form Holtz's medal ceremony will take. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a steady drumbeat of infections throughout the White House, Trump has continued to hold large in-person gatherings. The White House did not offer specifics about the ceremony.

Holtz has drawn recent attention for political statements. He has compared the lethal police brutality that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement to an unearned speeding ticket and attacking athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.

Holtz once said “Hitler was a great leader,” though he later called the comment a mistake. Holtz has criticized COVID-19 precautions, saying Democrats just want to shut down sports and comparing continuing sports to soldiers storming Normandy beach to fight the Third Reich in World War II.

Holtz also has voiced his support for Trump, speaking at the Republican National Convention in August. Many on social media noted that Holtz's endorsement of Trump was a primary reason for receiving the honor, lamenting what they saw as the degradation of the award.

Some Trump supporters praised the decision.

Holtz had a college record of 249–132–7 and an NFL record of 3-10. Aside from coaching at Notre Dame, Holtz coached at Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina. North Carolina men's basketball Dean Smith was the most recent college coach to receive the honor, which took place in 2013.