ALLEN PARK — Maya Angelou was a professor at Wake Forest when Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell was the head football coach there from 1993-2000. Angelou died on Wednesday at the age of 86.

The Lions released a statement from Caldwell on Angelou:

“She was extremely impactful. You look at just the body of her work and what a difference that made for our society from a cultural standpoint, and from a social standpoint as well. She influenced a number of students and folks, like myself, who worked there at the university, who had the great fortune of coming into contact with her.

 “She invited me to her home and she had a reception for me to get to know people within the community. She was on the faculty there for many years and one of the beloved literary giants in our lifetime.”