(La Porte, IN) - The late Lou Holtz inspired a lot of people when he was the head football coach at Notre Dame.  He was also a source of inspiration for La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody.

Dermody said he met Holtz in La Porte County several years ago when he was here to give a speech and engaged in some brief conversation with him after his presentation.  He said he followed the Irish when Holtz was their head coach and the players seemed like “they would run through a brick wall for him.”

“I always loved his leadership style.  His motivating as a coach for his team and he has high expectations.  He just was inspiring,” he said.  Holtz, who coached the Irish to their last national championship in football in 1988, died yesterday.  He was 89.