Detroit King head coach Dale Harvel passes away

DETROIT - Multiple sources close to the Detroit Martin Luther King football program have confirmed that head coach Dale Harvel has died at the young age of 57. He apparently died from a heart attack at King's field and was taken to a nearby hospital where he could not be revived.

Harvel joined the King coaching staff in 1986 and was its long-time defensive coordinator under legendary head coach Jim Reynolds. Harvel took over the program in 2009 after Reynolds retired due to health reasons, just two years removed from winning the program's first Division 2 state title in 2007.

Harvel compiled a 61-19 record while as head coach of the Crusaders, winning three city titles, appearing in three state semifinal games, and winning a state title last season in dramatic fashion over Lowell, completing the program's second 14-0 season.

In 2014, Harvel suffered a heart attack after a game against Detroit Mumford. He quickly recovered and returned to the sidelines that same season. Nothing was going to stop him from coaching the game he loved. A number of his current and former players took to social media to remember him as a man of few words, but he always meant business. Harvel's coaching career spanned well over 30 years, and his stern way of coaching influenced the lives of thousands of young men on and off the field.