Former Buckeyes coach Bruce passes away at 87

Earle Bruce, who followed the legendary Woody Hayes as coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, died early Friday at the age of 87.

His daughters released a statement through the University announcing the news.

“He was a great man, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and a respected coach to many,” their statement read, in part.

Bruce revealed he was suffering from Alzheimer’s last August.

Taking over the Buckeyes program after Hayes was fired for punching an opposing player in the 1978 Gator Bowl, Bruce coached the team to an 81-26-1 record over the next nine seasons.

Current Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer was a graduate assistant on Bruce’s staff in his final two years on the sideline.

Meyer reflected on Bruce’s impact on him in a statement from the school.

“I’ve made it clear many times that, other than my father, Coach Bruce was the most influential man in my life,” Meyer said. “Every significant decision I’ve made growing up in this profession was with him involved in it. His wife [Jean] and he were the role models for Shelley and me. They did everything with class. He was not afraid to show how much he loved his family and cared for his family.”

Bruce was an acclaimed high school coach until Hayes brought him on as an assistant at Ohio State in 1966. He left the program to coach the University of Tampa in 1972, then moved on to Iowa State after one season.

He spent the next six years at Iowa State before returning to the Buckeyes in the wake of Hayes’ Gator Bowl incident. After leaving Ohio State in 1987, he went on to coach at Northern Iowa and Colorado State.

–Field Level Media