Dwayne Stephens Sr., who was the father of Michigan State men's basketball associate head coach Dwayne Stephens, died Wednesday due to complications from COVID-19.

“DJ (Stephens Jr.) is doing OK,” Cornell Mann, nephew of Stephens, said of his cousin. “It’s rough because my aunt is at home alone and has to deal with this after not being able to be with him at the hospital, so that’s tough.”

According to Mann, Stephens Sr. was in his later 60's. He attended Ferndale High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, before later going on to Northwood University.

“He was like a father to me,” Mann said to LSJ. “A tough, stand-up guy that made good men out of DJ, (DJ’s younger brother Jarrett) and me. He was tough, but humble. A hard worker. A loving granddad.”

The current Stephens, according to LSJ, has been on Izzo's staff for 16 seasons and played with MSU in 1986-93.

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