Denny Stolz, who succeeded the legendary Duffy Daugherty as head football coach at Michigan State University, has passed away at the age of 88 on Thursday.  That's according to Stolz's family to WVFN/WILX's Tim Staudt.


Stolz compiled a 19-13-1 record at MSU from 1973-75.  His most famous victory was the 1974 victory over then-#1 Ohio State at Spartan Stadium, 16-13.

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After resigning from MSU after the 1975 season, he took a year off before becoming the head coach at Bowling Green in 1977.  He held that post through the 1985 season.  He led the Falcons to an 11-1 record in '85, taking them to the California Bowl.

He then left Bowling Green to become the coach at San Diego State from 1986-88.  He went 16-19 during his time in southern California.

His overall record in 15 years of college coaching was 91-77-2.

The Alma College graduate (1955) was the head coach at his alma mater from 1965-1970, achieving a 34-16 record in six seasons at Alma.  He then became a defensive assistant at MSU for two seasons (1971-72) before taking over for Duffy after his Daugherty's sudden retirement after the 1972 season.

He was chosen as Duffy's replacement at MSU over such other coaching luminaries such as Barry Switzer, Lee Corso, and Johnny Majors.

His brother, Stan Stolz, was the legendary boys basketball coach at Okemos HS.  Stan led the Chieftans to a pair of Class B state titles in 1981 & 1982.  Denny's nephew, Dan (Stan's son), became Okemos' coach after Stan retired.  And he led them to the Class A state finals in 2006, where they fell in double overtime to Saginaw Arthur Hill, 85-84 at the Breslin Center at Michigan State.

Denny Stolz was 88 years old.

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