COLUMBUS, Ohio - Former Ohio State head football coach Earle Bruce has passed away.
In a statement Friday from this daughters, they say "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."
Chris Spielman played for Bruce from 1985 to 1987. He says Bruce was able to impact many lives in his position with the Buckeyes.
"Not only was the football part of it, which was minor, but frankly how he handled adversity. I took the lessons from how he handled adversity and applied it to my own life when I had to handle adversity in my own life, he was a strong guy. He was a strong husband," Spielman said.
Bruce served as head coach of the Buckeyes from 1979 until 1988.
He was 87.