Roadway outside Sebo Stadium designated Earle Bruce Way

SALEM -- The city of Salem honored one of its coaching superstars Thursday.

City council voted unanimously in May to confer the honorary designation "Earle Bruce Way" to the section of East Pershing Street between Lincoln and Ohio avenues outside Sebo Stadium in memory of the eponymous hall of fame coach.

On Thursday, that honorary designation was cemented with the dedication of new commemorative signs which will be posted at each end of Earle Bruce Way. The dedication coincided with Bruce's official induction as part of the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2026, and was attended by his daughter Michele Bruce Cenci and one of his former players, Frank Copacia.

Bruce began his lengthy head coaching career in Salem in 1956 and led the Salem Quakers to a record of 9-1 in 1958 and 8-1 in 1960, finishing his coaching career in Salem with a record of 28-9 over the course of four seasons. Salem Athletic Hall of Fame Chairman Matt Mowery said that Bruce still holds the record for the highest win percentage of any football coach in Salem High School history with a .757 winning percentage throughout his tenure.

After leaving Salem, Bruce served as the head coach of several college football programs including the University of Tampa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Colorado State University and The Ohio State University. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.