Columbus, Ohio — Earle Bruce, who embraced the unenviable task of following his mentor, the revered Woody Hayes, as Ohio State’s head football coach and then compiled an impressive record of his own beginning in 1979, has died in Columbus. He was 87.
His death was announced by his four daughters on Friday in a statement released by Ohio State. He had Alzheimer’s disease.
Bruce had a record of 81-26-1 as head coach in Ohio from 1979-87. He took over under unusual and challenging circumstances, hired after Hayes was fired for punching a Clemson player in the 1978 Gator Bowl.