LEROY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Michigan State athletics officials today recalled assistant softball coach Charles Fobbs, who was killed Wednesday in a car crash, as a "wonderful human being" who was committed to working with young people.

Fobbs, 47, of Canton, Mich., was killed in a crash on eastbound Interstate 96, Michigan State Police said. Authorities said his Chevrolet HHR left the road at 6:25 p.m. and rolled multiple times after he swerved to avoid slowing traffic. He died at the scene.

Fobbs was hired as an assistant softball coach for the 2013 season, according to his official MSU biography. He had worked for the team as a volunteer coach in 2009 and specialized in hitting and catching.

From 1991-2008, Fobbs was varsity softball coach at Cass Tech High School, where his team won five Detroit Public Schools league championships, 12 district titles, a regional title and advanced to state quarterfinals. He also worked as an assistant football coach at Cass Tech in 1994-2008.

"He was an exceptional person,'' Cass Tech football head coach Thomas Wilcher told the Detroit Free Press. "He was always fun, always laughing. He was always trying to help you out, always trying to figure out how to get something done. He was always trying to figure out how to get kids ahead. He lived to make people happy. He was the only guy I knew who would sit there and coach kids all day long. That was all he wanted to do — coach kids.''

Fobbs is a 1989 graduate of the University of New Mexico, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business technology.

He founded Detroit Cannon Youth Organization, a nonprofit youth development organization for urban kids. His wife and stepdaughter live in Canton.

"I'm absolutely devastated by the loss of my very good friend and a wonderful human being," Michigan State head softball coach Jacquie Joseph said in a statement released by the school. "We have lost someone incredibly special — he dedicated his life to helping develop young people, and this is a tremendous loss. My heart is with his family and all those who had the privilege of knowing him."

Said athletics director Mark Hollis in a statement: "Our thoughts are with Charles' family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We also have heavy hearts for Jacquie Joseph and her softball family here at MSU. More than a coach, Charles was a good friend to many here in our athletics department and across the state of Michigan."

Fobbs coached with Wilcher for 15 years at Cass Tech and was the best man in Wilcher's wedding.

"We were together for a long time,'' Wilcher said. "I liked how he always tried to make sure that a person would try to reach their potential and he understood all it would take was hard work to achieve some type of success at athletics.''

When Wilcher became head coach at Cass Tech, he coached the offense and Fobbs ran the defense before they switched roles a few years later.

Wilcher was not surprised when Fobbs decided to give up football and concentrate on coaching softball.

"He always coached softball, his dad did softball and he learned from his dad — Charlie Fobbs,'' Wilcher said. "He trained hard. He taught a lot of girls how to play softball. He was always at a softball coaches' camp. He learned a lot from other softball coaches.''

Fobbs is survived by his wife, Lisa, and stepdaughter, Hannah Shuler. Funeral arrangements are pending. MSU's Sunday doubleheader against Detroit Mercy has been canceled.

Lindsay VanHulle also writes for the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal. Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press contributed to this report.