The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. View profile . He will be remembered for his love of God, family, and friends. And same for the people who went through it with him. Zach Hoffpauir, a former two-sport athlete at Stanford University, died Thursday at the age of 26. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. She went on to play volleyball at Lee University in Tennessee. Hoffpauir's father, though, stressed to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News that his son did not commit suicide. */. Zach was known for encouraging friends to keep pursuing their faith and shooting the breeze with family friends. Following his death, Hoffpauirs family donated his brain for concussion research. Jayden Sormani expects to graduate December 2021 with a bachelors degree in sports journalism. Zachs loved ones will remember his athletic accomplishments, but more than that, theyll remember his gentle spirit that gave love to anyone who would accept it. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. 197,654 likes. It was compassion, Zach said. Low 42F. Hes like my heartbeat.. David Shaw, who coached Hoffpauir at Stanford, was philosophical about the loss. He played primarily on special teams in football and struggled mightily in baseball. Find out how. He enjoyed horseback riding, fly fishing and vacationing with his family in Mexico, listening to the same music and breathing the same air, his dad said. He excelled in both and became one of the best athletes in Centennial history. But Hoffpauir sustained several concussions during his career and displayed many of the classic CTE symptoms, including mood swings, depression and memory loss. He always said hashtag CTE.. 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In 2011, his last football season at Centennial, Hoffpauir was all over the field as a hard-hitting safety and a red-zone running back finding tough yards into the end zone. His father remembers him first catching a ball when he was nine months old, dribbling a basketball by two, and catching his first fish on a fly rod when he was four. The world lost a legendary friend and family member, said Cara Burkholder, longtime friend. 17 UCLA It allowed him to focus on good things in his life, even if those things were having a family or air conditioning. Surrounded by her beloved family, Joyce Ann Hoffpauir, 78, passed away Friday, February 17, 2023. But this time, Zach entered a deep funk. Northern Colorado assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir has died, the program has announced. While Hoffpauir was a star athlete on the field, no o. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential. Hoffpauir was 26 years old. Zach Hoffpauir, Shannon's son, lived life to the fullest in his 26 years, seemingly never taking a day off from injecting joy or perspective into someone else's life. He was this incredible athlete with this strong exterior, but he really was just a big softie, Zachs cousin, Morgan Williams, said. PEORIA It was a moment of celebration but also melancholy as Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir led a crowd to the middle of the Centennial High School football field. Visitation will be observed on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 11:00 am until the time of services, at First Presbyterian Church, 1130 Johnston Street in Lafayette. He had a gregarious personality and we all loved him. 1 team. Im done. Its a loss on so many levels.. 31, now painted in the team's red and white above the 31-yard line, that will . David Fernandez, Centennial High Schools school resource officer from the Peoria Police Department, tweeted a fond memory: A few years ago, Zach Hoffpauir was back at Centennial mentoringI was standing nearby watching when a young student walked up and said, Hey, whos that?, I replied, Thats who you want to grow up to be.. The pills had been laced with fentanyl, according to a report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiners office. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir holds up a small sign that reads, "Look who's turning 25," on his birthday. The news broke last Thursday via an NBC affiliate in Phoenix. The school provided no further details. Zach would come back to Arizona, medically retired from football. Hoffpauir is hoping to regain his starting position at . Zach was 26 years old. The brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma in football. Send Flowers. He was never one of the so-called Pee Wee bobbleheads, where the young brain sits atop an undeveloped neck and absorbs hundred, if not thousands of hits. He began working locally, working with high school football teams in the Peoria and Phoenix area, including his old stomping ground, Centennial. The family donated his brain to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic EncephalopathyCenter that studies long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma. His same ability to connect with people that made him such an outstanding teammate made him an instant fit in coaching. Injuries ultimately forced him to retire from playing either sport. "He was so excited to get back to Northern Colorado and try to influence lives beyond football," his father told the Arizona Republic. This fentanyl crap is everywhere, Doug Hoffpauir said. He left school in 2015 after being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the MLB draft. Sometimes he had so much love for other people, said Christian McCaffery, Zachs Stanford football teammate at the celebration of life. And that would have been really hard for Zachary to endure, and to watch himself deteriorate.. HIGH SCHOOL. She was born October 30, 1944, in Houston to Virble and Hilda Nerren. More:Zach Hoffpauir remembered for compassion, friendship during powerful celebration of life, "Zach Hoffpauir touched the lives of each person he met," says Claudia Faust, executive producer of the documentary. McCaffery, a running back drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, was told about Zachs condition and acted without hesitation. He was born on September 21, 1993, in Glendale, Arizona, United States. But on May 15, 2020, Hoffpauir died of an accidental overdose at age 26. He had so much to look forward to. It changed his life, Doug Hoffpauir said. We talked about the little things in life and how to never take for granted a loved one. Here is the All-District 38-4A boys soccer team, as selected by the league's coaches. Zach Hoffpauir, a two-sport standout at Stanford who earned All-Pac 12 honours as a safety in football and played two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system, has died at age 26. Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content. Brink, Jump lead No. He was an inspiration to all who have faced adversity. He never played Pop Warner. At that time, we didnt bring freshman up (to varsity), but he probably couldve played on the varsity team as a freshman. They cheered for her the entire match. His death revealed the extent of his care toward others. Injuries took a toll on him during his football career, causing him to retire. The same pressure that pushed him to Stanford is what kept him there for three years. Hoffpauir was a standout safety who made All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014. Months later, Brain Bank researchers informed the Hoffpauirs that Zach had Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. He enjoyed making new friends and always made a point to keep in contact with them through the years. He was 26. We also knew that this research could help others, and that is exactly what Zach would want.. He told Shaw how he had identified the most important quality in any great coach was not discipline, communication, or any tactical trait. McCaffrey shared similar sentiments, noting Zachs unique passion for leading the players and honesty about his own experiences. And there isnt anyone who can tell them whats happening. I would hope that seeing (Zachs) number, sharing those stories, keeping a record here on campus allows us the opportunity to not forget, said Adam Larsen, the athletic director at Centennial. Doug Hoffpauir is sharing his sons story to shine a light on the effects of CTE and to encourage those struggling to seek help. Sign up for free today. People always tell me I was his biggest cheerleader, but he was really mine, Hillary Hoffpauir said. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir signs his autograph on the Stanford Cardinals team poster. Grabill has interned as a photographer with McGaw YMCA Camp Echo and Phoenix Magazine. Although we cannot yet accurately diagnose CTE in living people, a specialist can help treat the symptoms presenting the most challenges. "It was riddled with CTE lesions.". He loved coaching those boys, Shannon Hoffpauir said. He made 137 more in high school and was in on hundreds of others playing running back and wide receiver. Maybe not. All the concussions he got from playing shortened his career. Last Thursday morning, Zach Hoffpauir passed away at the age of 26. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. At the Centennial event, Doug refused to let the pain of his familys loss and the communitys loss bring down this night of celebration. , A post shared by Christian McCaffrey (@christianmccaffrey) on May 15, 2020 at 8:07am PDT. Fill in some information about your loved one, and we'll generate some text that you can use as a starting point for your online memorial. (Courtesy of Morgan Williams), Zach Hoffpauir smiles while on the football field at Stanford. Cognitive deterioration is the hallmark of CTE, and you rarely see it in 20- and 30-year-olds.. Feb 22, 2023. So I went to sleep, then I woke up and I just had this weird feeling. The night before his death, his mother said he went to bed after taking Percocet, an oxycodone-acetaminophen pain killer that Hoffpaiur acquired from a friend, just to get his first full night of sleep in weeks. Try our free interactive obituary template. McCaffrey's father, former Denver Broncos wide receiver and current first-year Northern Colorado head coach Ed McCaffrey, also was shaken by Hoffpauir's death. He was 26. The night of May 14, 2020, Zach Hoffpauir and Shaw spoke on the phone for several hours. 3 Cardinal past No. He died on May 14, 2020. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. He hit .258 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 62 at-batsbetween rookie and Single-A ball. It made so much sense. UCLA stuns Stanford women in Pac-12 tournament semifinals Zach Hoffpauir Age. Former Stanford multi-sport athlete Hoffpauir, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, Former Stanford multi-sport athlete Hoffpauir died of accidental overdose, autopsy shows: report, UCLA stuns Stanford women in Pac-12 tournament semifinals, Brink, Jump lead No. In the documentary, Hoffpauirs mother described a world in which her son lived into middle age. He spent one year in their organization (Class-A), then returned to Stanford for the 2016 season to complete his football career. The Mystic Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge celebrated its 41st annual ball Jan. 21 at the Raising Cane's River Center. Are you or someone you know struggling with lingering concussion symptoms or possible CTE? Stanford women: Brink, Jones power No. Hoffpauir died on May 14 . Zach brought a sparkle to the world that was unlike anything else. *** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference. When Zach took that step up from high school athletics to college athletics, Zach began to feel as if he was losing his passion for the game, his father said. Zach Hoffpauir, a former football and baseball player at Stanford, died in May of an accidental drug overdose, according to a reportciting county medical examiner records in his native Arizona. Originally published by The Associated Press on May 16, 2020. 2023 www.azcentral.com. 418 likes. That he didnt have enough love for himself.. he calls my dad and says Im going to fly him out here, hes going to see Dr. Prusmack whos the chief neurosurgeon for the Denver Broncos. I sit down with him for 15 minutes and he tells me I have Lyme Disease. Mike Nowels is an assistant sports editor for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Centennial coach Richard Taylor always regarded Hoffpair as one of his favorite players to coach because of the way he impacted the team. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Hope Hoffpauir (Crowley, Louisiana), who passed away on January 6, 2019, at the age of 61, leaving to mourn family and friends. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential.. Hoffpauir suffered after his years of playing football. He then returned to Palo Alto for a fifth-year senior season in 2016. Shook up about this, Ertz tweeted. Its probably what the public will remember him for. Ex-Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26. The family will also hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. Zach went 6-12 with three home runs in the series, including an infamous post-homer stare down with a Cal pitcher who had been taunting Stanford. BRAVES -- Purchased contracts of P Zach Schreiber from Triple-A Richmond, P Charlie Morton from Double-A Mississippi and RHP Jairo Cuevas from Single-A Myrtle Beach. The disease carries three classic features the CTE triad according to Dr. Robert Cantu of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. At Stanford, Zach thrived on the football and baseball fields. He was a cowboy and a coach, a fisherman and a dancer. Hoffpauir's parents, Doug and Shannon, were recognized He wanted to help the players succeed on the field, at home, in class and in the community. Now all of a sudden, sports became a business, Doug said in the Sports360AZ documentary. A 30-minute documentary on former Centennial football star Zach Hoffpauir, who died last year, will air Monday on Sports360az.com. He was the friend who picked up the phone. Zach didnt shy away from showing his imperfections and struggles. It was a moment of celebration but also melancholy as Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir led a crowd to the middle of the Centennial High School football field. With Zach preparing for his first season at NCU, he spoke with Shaw about the craft. Zach decided to attend Stanford University, where he would continue football and baseball. After the attempt, he began finding healing through a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family). People sometimes assume they are violent, superficial and emotionally immature. Stanford was excellent to Zach, he said. He had trouble sleeping as his mind raced at night. Zach Hoffpauir, a former Peoria Centennial and Stanford football safety, died last Thursday at the age of 26. By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. Never miss an issue. District co-Most Valuable Players: Holden Butler, senior, Nederland and Angel Valencia, sophomore, Port Neches . CLF is a Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit Organization, In a September 2019 interview on Untold,, in a 2021 documentary from Sports360AZ about Zachs life. His loved ones wish they could remind him of that one more time. The head coach was Ed McCaffrey, the father of former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey one of Hoffpauirs best friends. Bill Melancon officiating. One night of sleep was all he wanted. Zachs father, Doug Hoffpauir, said Zach spent his life taking time to connect with others. A recently-hired University of Northern Colorado assistant football coach died Thursday. After Stanford and the finality of not being able to play beyond college, he struggled with what to do in life, said Doug Hoffpauir. Everything he wanted to accomplish, he did.. I have nothing else to give.. I love you and your family and I promise we'll make you proud. The documentary that dives into the life of the former Peoria Centennial High School and Stanford football and baseball standout will air 12 times on Bally Sports Arizona, starting Tuesday. Hed be in your heart.. but it can also be stressful. But I never knew how much I needed every word. A mass of Christi At that time, McCaffrey and other Stanford teammates returned to the Valley for a dinner on the anniversary of Hoffpauir's death. His role, while short, was about so much more than just Xs and Os. Come (his) 40s, he probably would have had either Alzheimers, Lou Gerhigs disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Parkinsons, Shannon said, tears in her eyes. 128 to our projected No. The statistical production wasnt there yet, but Zach Hoffpauir didnt need to produce on the field to make an impact on his teams. That research will be valuable to future generations. 0. He was recently hired as an assistant coach for Northern Colorado as his minor league baseball career was officially . Zach Hoffpauir could catch a ball at 9 months old and could dribble a basketball at 2. Zach struggled with severe depression and anxiety and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease. After his suicide attempt, Zach began practicing gratitude in a more intentional way. 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After graduating from Stanford, Hoffpauirs physical and mental health declined. He was at the same time: the big brother you always wanted, the life coach you never knew you needed and the friend you knew would always have your back.. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News), That morning (May 13) I went to go fishing, said Doug in a Sports360AZ documentary, Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story. I got up at 3, we talk a little bit. In the closing moments of his Untold interview, Zach spoke about the power of vulnerability and opening up to others about what youre going through. We were celebrating his accomplishments not knowing that it caused a lot of pressure for him to perform.. Life without Zach Hoffpauir wont be easy for those who loved him. He made us all proud all the time. Former Stanford two-sport standout Zach Hoffpauir, an All-Pac-12 safety who also played minor league baseball for the Diamondbacks, passed away on Thursday in Arizona. Yep, thats 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. Its hard to find people who when youre around them and theyre truly present, said Thorne. Zach acknowledged that he felt the weight of those who were rooting for him, those that dreamed so highly for him, and could not bear the thought of letting them down. He couldnt fight this alone. New UNC head football coach Ed McCaffrey hired Zach in February to coach safeties. You could just feel the charisma coming off of him, Justin Sanchez said. They passed by the No. Interment will . After he medically retired from football and left Stanford, Hoffpauir suffered from Valley fever, Meningitis and a form of Lyme disease. The news hit Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and his family hard. I just dont have the words to express the loss. But he knew something was wrong.. The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. He certainly isnt mad at Stanford quite the opposite, in fact. All rights reserved. Search by Name. 2023 Cronkite News. The medical examiners report cited fentanyl toxicity as Hoffpauirs cause of death, according to the KPNX report, noting that it was ruled an accident. Jon Wilner has been covering college sports for decades and is an AP top-25 football and basketball voter as well as a Heisman Trophy voter. I was able to see, even in his brokenness, he was such an influence on people, Shannon Hoffpauir said. He was a true friend and a great brother to anyone he knew. At his memorial, Zachs pastor said, Everything Zach did was loud and it was passionate.. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. He was chosen by The Arizona Republic as the greatest football player in Centennial's rich history. He was our he was kinda like our heartbeat honestly, he was the personality of the team.. I felt helpless because I wanted to fix things for Zach, but I did not know what was really wrong.. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). His mood changed. 2023 Cronkite News. Zach's loved ones will remember his athletic accomplishments, but more than that, they'll remember his gentle spirit that gave love to anyone who would accept it. I mightve just fallen on my knees and cried, Doug Hoffpauir said, holding back tears. Cronkite News, the news division of Arizona PBS, is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Faust's team accumulated 15 hours of footage to put into the 30-minute documentary that not only includes interviews from his parents Shannon and Doug, but insight from Ann McKee, a neurologist and director of Boston University's CTE Center on the results of the study on Hoffpauir's brain. Whatever Zach Hoffpauir touched, he excelled in. Thats the last thing he said. He commented at the time on Hoffpauir's character and how he felt he would some day become a great coach. The family has asked for time to grieve, he said. I am devastated by the loss of Zach Hoffpauir, a friend to me and my family since his playing days with my son Christian at Stanford, Bears new head football coach Ed McCaffrey wrote on Instagram on Friday. At Stanford, his three-year totals were 11 homers, 58 RBIs and a career .295 batting average. Hoffpauir played safety and McCaffrey was a running back. Hoffpauir was 26 when he died this spring, just months after being named a defensive backs coach at Northern Colorado under new hire Ed McCaffrey, the father of former Cardinal teammate and close friend Christian McCaffrey, who now plays for the NFLs Carolina Panthers. Zach Hoffpauir, 26, died in his sleep, according to a release from the athletic department. My dopamine levels were zero. My family wanted answers to help us process the loss of Zach, said Doug.