Former CSU coach Earle Bruce recovering from stroke

Former CSU football coach Earle Bruce is expected to make a full recovery following a stroke he suffered three weeks ago.

Bruce’s daughter Lynn confirmed the news to The Columbus Dispatch on Thursday morning and said that the coach was attending a family reunion July 23 in Maryland when the stroke happened.

Bruce, 84, coached Colorado State University from 1989-1992 and built a 22-24-1 record in four seasons. In 1990, he led the Rams to their first bowl victory in program history by defeating Oregon 32-31 in the Freedom Bowl. Prior to arriving in Fort Collins, Bruce coached at the University of Tampa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa and, most notably, spent 1979-1987 as Woody Hayes’ successor at Ohio State.

He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

According to the Dispatch, Bruce has been rehabilitating at Dodd Hall, located in at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.