Three Rules for Living a Good Life

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (first place, spirituality-hardcover).


Legendary former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz shared three easy to remember and impossible to forget rules for life during a commencement address at Franciscan University Steubenville.

Do what is right.Do everything to the best of your ability.Show people you care.

Now expanded into book form, Three Rules for Living a Good Life: A Game Plan for after Graduation offers a quick, sometimes humorous, and always practical formula for recent college graduates and other young adults to reach success in their business, personal, and spiritual lives.

Three Rules for Living a Good Life is a great gift book for a young adult looking for a quick read that offers encouragement and concrete advice for transitioning to the workforce and to deeper, more committed relationships.

Lou Holtz, one of the most successful college football coaches of all time, a college football analyst, and a premier motivational speaker, shares a message that is genuine and sensible. Punctuated with examples for keeping and living the rules each day from his years of working with teams, in business, and with his family, Holtz’s book keeps the discussion light, humorous, and real.

Holtz’s commencement message is one he often shares with business leaders around the world. He points to the foundation of his Christian faith and the necessity for young adults who have been raised in the faith to take stock of themselves at this crossroads of their life. “Don’t ignore God! Don’t give up the faith!” he writes.

A sought-after motivational speaker, Holtz annually gives hundreds of presentations on topics having to do with leadership, success, and achieving peak results. Holtz has also given many commencement addresses and been awarded a number of honorary degrees. In Three Rules for Living a Good Life, this iconic Notre Dame football coach and television and radio analyst sums up his essential graduation message that college grads will find useful as they take their places in the “real world.”

Lou Holtz is a Hall of Fame college football coach who served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1985 to 1996, leading the Fighting Irish to the consensus national championship in 1988. He also is a popular motivational speaker and an author of several books, including the New York Times bestselling The Fighting Spirit about Notre Dame’s 1988 championship season; his autobiography, Wins, Losses, and Lessons; and A Teen’s Game Plan for Life. After leaving coaching, Holtz became a college football analyst for ESPN. He retired in 2015, but continues to work as a college football and golf analyst for SiriusXM radio. Holtz has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He has received a number of honors not only for coaching but also for his philanthropy. Holtz and his wife, Beth, have four grown children. They live in Orlando, Florida.

“Few souls I’ve ever encountered had the ability to capture a mind and heart like Coach Lou Holtz. He is as funny as he is inspiring and as wise as he is blunt and honest. Coach is not only the guy you want to invite to the party, he’s also the guy you want to be your grandfather. In his newest book, Three Rules for Living a Good Life, Lou Holtz delivers timeless and practical paternal wisdom—once again—in a way only he can. As a reader, I was completely engaged with the turn of each page. As a football fanatic, I was enthralled with every story and anecdote; as a Catholic Christian, I was affirmed and challenged to live a more virtuous life. This book is great not only for the young but also for the young at heart. Within these pages are the blueprint for success in faith, life, and love.”
Mark Hart
Executive Vice President of Life Teen International

“Everyone can benefit from having a mentor, a coach to help them navigate through the stages of life. Coach Lou Holtz shares with the reader his faith-based game plan for life that we were blessed to have him present to Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2015 graduating class. Simple, yet profound, Holtz’s game plan is one that everyone who desires to excel in living a good life should consider.”
Rev. Sean O. Sheridan, T.O.R.
President of Franciscan University of Steubenville

“I love Lou’s theory for winning in the game of life! Lou presents his philosophy and game plan to help a person become a success in life. A great read. Truly AWESOME BABY with a CAPITAL A!”
Dick Vitale
ESPN College Basketball Analyst

“There is no one more qualified to offer advice to young (and not-so-young) people than Coach Holtz. He has lived through life’s ups and downs with humor, integrity, and faith. His words inspire me daily, and I will be buying this book for every graduate I know!”
Haley Scott DeMaria
Author, speaker, and member of Notre Dame swimming (1995)

“Lou Holtz is masterful in teaching life lessons that everyone can learn from. A wonderful, witty, easy read that will change your life for the better.”
Muffet McGraw
Head coach of the University of Notre Dame Women's Basketball team