Former Michigan State football coach Denny Stolz has died at the age of 89

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Denny Stolz, named football coach of the year in four conferences, has died. He was 89.

State of Michigan announced that Stolz had died on Thursday. The family notified the school of his death, and no cause was given.

Stolz was 126-92-2 in 21 seasons with the Spartans, Bowling Green, San Diego State and Alma College. He was the 1974 Big Ten Coach of the Year and was also named the Mid-American Conference, Western Athletic Conference and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year.

The Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Famer played three sports at Mason High School and went on to play Division III football and baseball at Alma, where he later won 35 football games in six seasons as a coach.

Stolz was Michigan State’s defensive coordinator under College Football Hall of Fame coach Duffy Daugherty his final two seasons before being promoted to coach and went 19-13-1 from 1973-75.

He won 56 games in nine seasons at Bowling Green, won MAC titles in 1982 and 1985, then went 16-19 in three years at San Diego State.