Former Ohio State football coach Earle Bruce died Friday morning, his daughters confirmed in a statement released by the school.
Bruce won four Big Ten titles after taking over for Woody Hayes and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was 87.
Bruce's daughter, Lynn, revealed to The Columbus Dispatch in August that her father was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
"He was a great man, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, and a respected coach to many," Lynn and her three sisters — Michele, Aimee and Noel — said in a statement released Friday morning. "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."
Bruce spent nine years as coach of the Buckeyes, guiding them to an 81-26-1 record and five bowl victories. A highly successful high school coach in Ohio, he also had college coaching stints at the University of Tampa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Colorado State in a career that spanned more than four decades.
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and Alabama coach Nick Saban are among the current head coaches who worked under Bruce at Ohio State early in their careers.
“I’ve made it clear many times that, other than my father, Coach Bruce was the most influential man in my life,” Meyer said in a statement released by the school. “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.”
Watch WKYC's report from 1979 where Bruce is introduced as Ohio State's head football coach in the player above. You'll see Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield working for us on the story.