COLUMBUS, Ohio –The Ohio State University has lost a true gentleman and a longtime employee of the Department of Athletics in Bob Tucker, who suffered a sudden heart attack and died Sunday near his home in Worthington. Tucker was 73.
A close friend and coaching assistant to both Earle Bruce and Jim Tressel, Tucker spent 15 years at Ohio State as a coach and administrator. Most recently, he assisted the program by serving as the liaison for military visits and recognitions.
Tucker coached on a Bruce staff for 12 years, first as an assistant for six years at Iowa State (1973-78) and then at Ohio State from 1979-84. He coached Buckeye outside linebackers from 1979-81 and then served as defensive coordinator from 1982-84. The Buckeyes won three Big Ten titles during this time and played in six bowl games, including two Rose Bowls (1979 and 1984 seasons).
Tucker left Ohio State after the 1984 campaign to become head coach at the College of Wooster, his alma mater. He spent 11 seasons there before joining Tressel’s staff at Youngstown State in 1997.
He came to Ohio State with Tressel in 2001 and worked as his director of operations for nine seasons until retiring after the 2009 campaign. Tucker was a central administrator for Ohio State’s 2002 national championship football team and, in all, was a part of six Big Ten championship teams (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and two additional national championship game teams.
Tucker’s coaching career also includes positions at Wichita State University, at Massillon High School and at Penn State, where he was a graduate assistant for two seasons (1965 and 1966) under Joe Paterno. He earned his master’s degree in health and physical education from Penn State in 1967.
A native of Sandusky, Ohio, Tucker is a 1965 graduate of the College of Wooster with his undergraduate degree also in health and physical education.
Tucker and his wife, Lynn, have three grown children: daughters Diana and Michelle, and a son, Scott.
Arrangements are pending.
A close friend and coaching assistant to both Earle Bruce and Jim Tressel, Tucker spent 15 years at Ohio State as a coach and administrator. Most recently, he assisted the program by serving as the liaison for military visits and recognitions.
Tucker coached on a Bruce staff for 12 years, first as an assistant for six years at Iowa State (1973-78) and then at Ohio State from 1979-84. He coached Buckeye outside linebackers from 1979-81 and then served as defensive coordinator from 1982-84. The Buckeyes won three Big Ten titles during this time and played in six bowl games, including two Rose Bowls (1979 and 1984 seasons).
Tucker left Ohio State after the 1984 campaign to become head coach at the College of Wooster, his alma mater. He spent 11 seasons there before joining Tressel’s staff at Youngstown State in 1997.
He came to Ohio State with Tressel in 2001 and worked as his director of operations for nine seasons until retiring after the 2009 campaign. Tucker was a central administrator for Ohio State’s 2002 national championship football team and, in all, was a part of six Big Ten championship teams (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and two additional national championship game teams.
Tucker’s coaching career also includes positions at Wichita State University, at Massillon High School and at Penn State, where he was a graduate assistant for two seasons (1965 and 1966) under Joe Paterno. He earned his master’s degree in health and physical education from Penn State in 1967.
A native of Sandusky, Ohio, Tucker is a 1965 graduate of the College of Wooster with his undergraduate degree also in health and physical education.
Tucker and his wife, Lynn, have three grown children: daughters Diana and Michelle, and a son, Scott.
Arrangements are pending.
