“Show me anyone who is successful, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity” is a saying that has been frequently said by American football coach and motivational speaker Lou Holtz. “But you show me a successful coach, a successful anything, and I’m going to show you somebody who has overcome adversity” was said by Holtz in 1986.
     
 
Wikipedia: Lou Holtz
Louis Leo “Lou” Holtz (born January 6, 1937) is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker. He served as the head football coach at The College of William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975), the University of Arkansas (1977–1983), the University of Minnesota (1984–1985), the University of Notre Dame (1986–1996), and the University of South Carolina (1999–2004), compiling a career record of 249–132–7. Holtz’s 1988 Notre Dame team went 12–0 with a victory in the Fiesta Bowl and was the consensus national champion. Holtz is the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games and the only coach to guide four different programs to the final top 20 rankings. Holtz also coached the New York Jets of the NFL during the 1976 season.
   
2 August 1986, Augusta (GA) Chronicle, ‘Holtz owes much to ex-USC coach” (AP), pg. 5C, col. 3:
“People are going to be up, and people are going to be down,” Holtz said. “But you show me a successful coach, a successful anything, and I’m going to show you somebody who has overcome adversity.”
 
Google Books
The Power of Positive Parenting
By William Mitchell and Charles Paul Conn
New York, NY: Wynwood Press
1989
Pg. 175:
“Show me anyone who is successful and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” Today he (Lou Holtz—ed.) is one of the nation’s outstanding coaches and motivational speakers.
     
3 January 1989, Altoona (PA) Mirror, “Holtz earns mention alongside ND greats” by James Litke (AP Sports Writer), pg. D1, col. 4:
Little wonder, then, that this nervous alchemist with the corporate CEO’s sense of timing is fond of saying, “Show me anyone who is successful and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.”
 
Google Books
Winning Words:
Classic Quotes from the World of Sports
By Michael Benson
Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing
2008
Pg. 3:
“In adversity there is opportunity. Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity. I’ve never known anybody to achieve anything without overcoming adversity.Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn’t make me stronger.”
—Lou Holtz, football
 
Google Books
Let Go of Whatever Holds You Back
By John Mason
Grand Rapids, MI: Revell
2012
Pg. 78:
“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity” (Lou Holtz)
 
Twitter
Tim Fargo
‏@alphabetsuccess
Show me a person who is a success, and I’ll show you a person who has overcome adversity. - Lou Holtz #quote
9:50 PM - 28 Dec 13