Born in Clinton, Iowa in 1927, Harold "Red" Lutz attended Clinton High where he was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic achievements.

From 1942 to 1946, he lettered in football, basketball, and track.

After high school, Red spent two years in the armed services as a paratrooper and multi-sport athlete at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He played on the Post's football team, which later led to his football scholarship at the University of Alabama in 1948.

Red played defensive end and kicker for Coach Red Drew from 1948 to 1951. He was awarded Most Outstanding Player in 1951 and his hand and footprints are on the Walk of Fame at Denny Chimes. He still holds the record for Most Attempted Points After Touchdown in a Single Game with 13.

Red's past experiences as an athlete launched his career as an assistant coach in football, basketball, and track at Fairfield High School. In 1957, he was named head coach and requested one assistant coach for basketball and one for track, which allowed him to focus on football and starting a wrestling program.

Red was at Fairfield for 12 years, his teams won three consecutive Alabama state team titles from 1967 to 1969 and he was named Coach of the Year twice. Fourteen of his wrestlers were individual state champions.

Moving to Tuscaloosa High School in 1969, Red was named athletic director and head coach. He started the wrestling program in 1970, and his wrestlers won several state titles. Tuscaloosa High later merged with Central High where he retired from coaching after 28 years.

Though Red never wrestled himself, he was a pioneer in spreading the sport in Alabama. He felt wrestling conditioned athletes, improved agility, and required more self-discipline than other sports. He also recognized that many young men who were not able to play team sports could excel individually in wrestling without regard to their size.

He is grateful to his mentors Swede Umbach, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and former wrestling coach of Auburn University, and Charles Lee and Dwight Buzbee of Benjamin Russell High School.

Red was inducted in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1995 for his successful achievements in coaching many athletes and being a role model in their lives.

He is married to his wife of 68 years, Mary, and has two children, Lee Ann and Bill (Teresa Thomas) and five grandchildren.

He is a serving deacon at his church and currently lives in Alexander City, AL enjoying fishing and making stained glass.