COLUMBUS – Former Buckeye football Coach Earle Bruce has died at age 87.
According to a statement from his family, Bruce died early Friday morning.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Coach Earle Bruce, early this morning, Friday, April 20. He was a great man, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and a respected coach to many. Our family will miss him dearly, but we take solace in the belief that he is in a better place and reunited with his beloved wife, Jean. We thank you for your prayers and good wishes.
His loving daughters: Lynn, Michele, Aimee and Noel
Bruce’s family announced in August that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jean.
The Earle and Jean Bruce Alzheimer’s Research Fund in Neurology at Ohio State has raised more than $1 million, according to the Wexner Medical Center website.
Bruce died at his home in Powell, OSU Athletics Department spokesman Jerry Emig said. Bruce turned 87 on March 8, and watched his last Ohio State practice on that day, Emig said.
Taking over after the firing of legendary coach Woody Hayes, Bruce served as head coach from 1979 until 1987, compiling a record of 81-26-1 though he was in turn dismissed during a season that saw his team finish 6-4-1.
PHOTOS: Ohio State coach Earle Bruce
He made an immediate mark on Ohio State football, leading the Buckeyes to an 11-0 regular season record and the Big Ten championship. A one-point loss to USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl kept him from an undefeated, national championship season.
Bruce led Ohio State to eight bowl games in his nine seasons, compiling a 5-3 bowl game record with the Buckeyes.
Buckeye Nation lost one of its own. Thoughts and prayers to the Bruce Family. My mentor and friend, thank you for all you did for The Ohio State University, and all those players and coaches whose lives you made a difference in. pic.twitter.com/mveMGFHWXO
— Urban Meyer (@CoachUrbanMeyer) April 20, 2018
Many future head coaches served on Bruce’s staff at Ohio State, including two who held the job in Columbus later — Jim Tressel and current coach Urban Meyer — as well as Nick Saban (Alabama) and Mark Dantonio (Mich. St.)
“I’ve made it clear many times that, other than my father, Coach Bruce was the most influential man in my life,” Meyer said.
A native of Cumberland, Md., Bruce began his coaching career while still a student at Ohio State. As a sophomore running back for the Buckeyes in 1951 under Hayes, Bruce was injured in preseason drills and never played football again but Hayes asked Bruce to join his staff, where he remained until his graduation in 1953.
Bruce had also served as head coach at the University of Tampa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa and Colorado State University building a career record of 154–90–2.
Bruce was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.