Paul John Hoolahan

Paul John Hoolahan, of Metairie, La., was born on March 12, 1950 in New York, and passed away unexpectedly on November 16, 2022 in Metairie at the age of 72. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Katherine and their three daughters: Kate, Molly and Megan; siblings Priscilla Stewart (late Frank), Nancy Staab (Al), and Stephen Hoolahan (Amy) as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Mary Hoolahan.

Hoolahan directed Sugar Bowl operations as the organization’s chief executive officer for 25 games, including five national championship games. In over two decades with the Sugar Bowl, Hoolahan directed organizational efforts which generated well over $3 billion for the local economy.

Hoolahan’s involvement in college football at the highest-level dates to his playing days at the University of North Carolina where he was an All-ACC lineman. Hoolahan later returned to UNC, where he would serve as a strength and conditioning coach, an academic advisor, an assistant athletic director, and finally an associate athletic director. Hoolahan also served as Director of Athletics at Vanderbilt University.

Hoolahan coached and played high school football at his alma mater, St. Francis Prep, a perennial power one-time home to the late Vince Lombardi, and was enshrined as an inaugural member of St. Francis Prep’s Athletics Ring of Honor.

Hoolahan, who was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, was presented with the National Football Foundation’s Legacy Award in 2018. He was also presented a Legacy Award in 2019 for “distinguished service within the bowl industry” by the Football Bowl Association.

Paul will be remembered for his generous spirit. He was a true leader and had a way of making everyone he met feel important and valued, welcoming them as a friend. Despite his many professional accomplishments, his greatest pride was his family. To his family, Paul was thought of as one of the toughest people with the kindest heart. He taught his daughters the importance of hard work and dedication in each of their pursuits and showed them how to live a life full of courage, compassion, integrity, and laughter.

Please join the family to celebrate his life. A visitation will be held on Monday, November 21, 2022 at St. Catherine of Siena 105 Bonnabel Blvd., Metairie, Louisiana beginning at 12:00, followed by a Funeral Mass at 3:00pm. Interment will be private.

For those so desiring, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in his name at the following link: https://www.stjude.org/donate/legacy.html?frequency_selected=2&legacypid=203239659&memoryFirstName=Paul&memoryLastName=Hoolahan