One night of sleep was all he wanted. Zach was known for encouraging friends to keep pursuing their faith and shooting the breeze with family friends. When the stories came out in mid-May of last year, the glaring headlines -- another athlete who died of a drug overdose -- Shannon Hoffpauir knew there was more to the story. Zach Hoffpauir, a two-sport standout at Stanford who earned All-Pac 12 honors as a safety in football and played two seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system, has died at age 26. Its startling to see. He was recently hired as an assistant coach for Northern Colorado as his minor league baseball career was officially . They shared stories about Zach. 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. Several themes emerged from their tearful tributes. Phoenix NBC affiliate KPNX broke the news Thursday. Cronkite News, the news division of Arizona PBS, is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Zach Hoffpauir died on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at the age of 26. Zach was 26 years old. The family has asked for time to grieve, he said. "I'll never be the same," his mother, Shannon Hoffpauir, said. Zach Hoffpauir Death. 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. As he grew up, he would hit socks across his home with a spatula. He was the uniter in his family and in his locker rooms. No mortal can make the statement that CTE is the primary issue if youre just dealing with emotional problems, because those are so common in society, Cantu said. Of course, he didnt have everything together. Now all of a sudden, sports became a business, Doug said in the Sports360AZ documentary. I was totally at peace with it, Doug Hoffpauir said Monday. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential. We were all lucky to know you for the time we did.. Zach's family . Hoffpauir's parents, Doug and Shannon, were recognized UNC football honors former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, family Zach knew something was wrong. He battled Lyme disease, Valley fever, meningitis, depression, insomnia. He made us all proud all the time. Then, as Shannon says in the documentary, "He didn't sleep one night and he got a Percocet from a friend and it was laced with Fentanyl and he died instantly.". XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? He was 26. 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. My family wanted answers to help us process the loss of Zach, said Doug. Former Stanford football player Zach Hoffpauir was posthumously diagnosed with CTE at the age of 26, a physician who researches the disease said on Tuesday . It was not meant to be, however, as Zach would hang up the gloves for a final time and head back to Arizona. UNC football honors former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, family No matter where they came from, no matter their circumstances.. We always talked about living simply when we got older: Hunting, fishing, riding bulls, RVing across the country with @beaukitson (One day we'll do that). Every day Zach Hoffpauir gave his love and passion to his family, his teammates and the players he coached. If that day marks the official start to an athlete's season then Zach Hoffpauir has been in season for 296 days. A 30-minute documentary on former Centennial football star Zach Hoffpauir, who died last year, will air Monday on Sports360az.com. He stood for caring for others, said Cavness. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found posthumously in the brains of football players. A medical examiner's database says that Hoffpauir, who was only 26 years old, died on May 14. but it can also be stressful. Northern Colorado assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir has died, the program has announced. With the right diagnosis and the right medication, Zach was on his comeback trail. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. He worked hard, boosted morale and was incredibly kind, said Casey Sawyer, marketing manager for the Portland, Oregon, suburb-located Hillsboro Hops. Two Zach Hoffpauir danced well and danced often. 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. His lowest point came in the spring of 2019 when he tried to overdose on Xanax and Benadryl, he said on a podcast last fall. Christian McCaffrey was his best friend. "He had quite a number of what we call lesions in the brain," McKee says in the documentary. According to Dr. Ann McKee, a professor of neurology at Boston University, which works with the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the examination of Hoffpauirs brain revealed a startling level of CTE. Talented young athletes often dominate several sports in elementary school and even high school. Former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 For a report to come out, Just another athlete who died of a drug overdose, Shannon said. Zach Hoffpauir, the University of Northern Colorado safeties coach and former two-sport Stanford standout, was anything but a stereotype. The pathology of the disease follows four stages, from I (mild) to IV (severe). He returned and won back his starting position at free safety, and had a strong start to the season before two concussions in back-to-back games ended his season and ultimately, his football career. Somethings wrong with me and I dont know what it is, Zach said of his thoughts at the time. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir signs his autograph on the Stanford Cardinals team poster. May 15, 2020. But Hoffpauir sustained several concussions during his career and displayed many of the classic CTE symptoms, including mood swings, depression and memory loss. The university . 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Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. It has been 296 days since the Stanford football team opened fall camp to begin . According to his mother, he took a Percocet to help him fall asleep and did not know the pill was laced with fentanyl. David Shaw, who coached Hoffpauir at Stanford, was philosophical about the loss. 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. Peter Jelovic, Centennial Highs athletic director, said the school was not yet planning a memorial. His father said Zach would have loved the celebration. 17 UCLA The family will also hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. College Sports | Low 42F. People always tell me I was his biggest cheerleader, but he was really mine, Hillary Hoffpauir said. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. In a practice his sophomore year, Taylor saw Zach take a hit so big his helmet rotated 90 degrees across his face. The same pressure that pushed him to Stanford is what kept him there for three years. Zach Hoffpauir Stats, Fantasy & News | MiLB.com "To a point it was exhausting talking to him. Zach loved sports and the opportunities they gave him, but he loved spending time with people a lot more. My dopamine levels were zero. This is not a DEATH NOTICE / OBITUARY, this is a developing story. 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. 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. Christian McCaffrey was his best friend. You dont pass up Stanford, Shannon said. The world lost a legendary friend and family member, said Cara Burkholder, longtime friend. More than 800 guests attended Bal Masque XLI, which carried out the theme . Sharon "Teda" Hoffpauir Obituary The legacy of Zach Hoffpauir lives on forever at Centennial high school. The pressure was. He was in the middle of everything, from his dance moves to his football hits, to his baseball home runs, to his transparency and resiliency and leading the room. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. Although we cannot yet accurately diagnose CTE in living people, a specialist can help treat the symptoms presenting the most challenges. He made 137 more in high school and was in on hundreds of others playing running back and wide receiver. I just dont have the words to express the loss. With Zach preparing for his first season at NCU, he spoke with Shaw about the craft. The brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma in football. He was an inspiration to all who have faced adversity. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family). He was 26. He holds a MA from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The father of Zach Hoffpauir, the former Stanford football player who died last week at the age of 26, said the family has donated Hoffpauir's brain to concussion research. Details are here, and thanks for your support. Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent OF Zach Hoffpauir to a minor league contract. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. christianmccaffrey. To the general public, Zach Hoffpauir is just an athlete and coach who died too soon. The head coach was Ed McCaffrey, the father of former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey one of Hoffpauirs best friends. Their brains should be pristine. Ex-Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 Zach Hoffpauirs family leads friends on the field at halftime of the Centennial-Hamilton game. The son of Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir and older brother of Hillary Hoffpauir, Zachary Hoffpauir graduated from Centennial in 2012. This eventually led him to getting a coaching job with the University of Northern Colorado, coaching the safeties. Hoffpauir played safety and McCaffrey was a running back. He taught me how to enjoy life. Zach had been staying with his father in the Valley during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Two weeks earlier, Hoffpauir passed away from an accidental overdose at age 26. Back home, Zachs parents could see just how much their son was hurting underneath and after his 21st birthday, he had a failed attempt to take his own life. "Hardbecause he loved coaching," Doug Hoffpauir said Thursday night in a text to The Arizona Republic. *** 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. "For a report to come out, 'Just another athlete who died of a drug overdose,' that doesn't tell the story," Shannon says in the 30-minute documentary, "Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story," that will first air on Sports360AZ.com at 5 p.m. Monday. Zach would come back to Arizona, medically retired from football. He was good friend's with McCaffrey's son, Christian, a running back for the Carolina Panthers. In high school, in addition to starring in two sportsand, of course, playing both offense (wide receiver, quarterback, running back) and defensehe became known as a charismatic leader. I love you and your family and I promise we'll make you proud. At the Centennial event, Doug refused to let the pain of his familys loss and the communitys loss bring down this night of celebration. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, right, takes a photo with his family, including his step brothers and step mother. All rights reserved. He also contracted Valley Fever and meningitis. Today at No. Zach Hoffpauir Dies at 26: Cause of Death Still Unknown - Heavy.com Once again, the sleepless nights began. He taught me how to not give a fuck about what people think about me, and to do it my way. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. zachhoff10. The family donated his brain to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic EncephalopathyCenter that studies long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma. Its a loss on so many levels.. He was this incredible athlete with this strong exterior, but he really was just a big softie, Zachs cousin, Morgan Williams, said. Zach also loved dancing, whether it was in the car, in the Hillsboro Hops baseball clubhouse the minor league team for which he played briefly on the field or at a concert. His new role at Northern Colorado included recruiting Arizona. Ex-Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir (10) had 99 tackles in his Stanford career. The sad thing about it is that Zach loved this: People, fun times, this is who Zach was. Tell their story, and publish it online for free. Zach Hoffpauir was a multi-sport athlete at Centennial High School in Peoria, Arizona before becoming an all-conference defensive back and outfielder for Stanford University. 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.. Following tragedies, Central High School finds comfort in its football community. 6 Stanford over Oregon to reach Pac-12 semis, Former Stanford, Cal MBB coach Mike Montgomery says schools are not keeping up with college changes, Stanford women: Brink, Jones power No. More Videos 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. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. He had a shorter fuse and he snapped at friends and family more quickly. You could just feel the charisma coming off of him, Justin Sanchez said. Athletically, Zachs freshman year in Palo Alto was not as prolific as his freshman year at Centennial. Ex-Stanford football, baseball standout dies at 26 Ill never be the same, his mother, Shannon Hoffpauir, said. Normally, Doug says Zach would be able to rebound quickly from things. He was good enough to be drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played parts of two minor-league seasons. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. I was able to see, even in his brokenness, he was such an influence on people, Shannon Hoffpauir said. He was 26. HIGH SCHOOL. The father said at the time that the Hoffpauir family had donated Zachs brain to concussion research. UCLA stuns Stanford women in Pac-12 tournament semifinals, Brink, Jump lead No. A memorial gathering for Carl will be held Monday, July 25, 2022, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM at St Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, 701 W. Virtue St., Chalmette, LA 70043, followed by a memorial service from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir - Arizona PBS Hoffpauir was a standout safety who made All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014. He clicked with junior safety Jamond Dubose on day one, talking for two hours about life and their similar experiences. That was his heart.. 418 likes. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. 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. Visitation at Johnson's Funeral Home will be held at 11:00 AM until the start of the funeral service at 1:00 PM on . His brain was later studied at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, where researchers diagnosed him with Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. Instead, he used those to connect with others. Zach Hoffpauir (R) had 99 tackles in his time at Stanford. "It was riddled with CTE lesions.". On the field, Zach excelled in baseball and football, and earned All-American honors for both. He began writing whenever he felt anxious, listing whatever he felt grateful for in that moment to ground him. He excelled in both and became one of the best athletes in Centennial history. Every time Centennial players step on the field, they will walk by the No. Im done. He enjoyed making new friends and always made a point to keep in contact with them through the years. Mary Grace Grabill expects to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelors degree in journalism and a minor in film production. 2023 Cronkite News. After the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB Draft, Hoffpauir took a year off from football to spend a season playing minor league baseball. Sign up for free today. If someone needed a listening ear, advice or a shoulder to cry on, he was there and it wasnt a burden. 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. I'll cherish all the memories we had bro. He certainly isnt mad at Stanford quite the opposite, in fact. Zach Hoffpauir (above in 2014), who played a combined seven seasons for the Cardinal on both the football field and baseball diamond, passed away yesterday at just 26 years old. I dont want people to think, This could happen to your kid. I mean, it could happen. "It's humbling to have been trusted by his family to share his story with those who never got to know the real Zach Hoffpauir.". At Zachs memorial service, Stanford football coach David Shaw reflected on Zachs willingness to speak up to the Stanford coaching staff when he thought change was necessary. Zachs cousin, J.D. He was our he was kinda like our heartbeat honestly, he was the personality of the team.. The University of Northern Colorado, where Hoffpauir was hired in February as an assistant football coach in charge of the safeties, said Hoffpauir died in his sleep Thursday. He left baseball and returned to football, in February landing an assistant coach job at the up-and-coming University of Northern Colorado, coached by Ed McCaffreya former pro and father of current NFL star Christian McCaffrey, Hoffpauirs close friend and former Stanford teammate. He made his return to baseball in 2018, once more splitting time between Montana and Oregon. Because if he had to, he would challenge you and he would step up and say, This is not right.. David Shaw, Zachs head football coach at Stanford, said Zach had the uncanny ability to get inside you. Zach motivated people, made them feel better and sometimes reduced the size of their egos. Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). He told Shaw how he had identified the most important quality in any great coach was not discipline, communication, or any tactical trait. At times, you just didnt know what you could do to help him. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential.. After the attempt on his life, Zach slowly found his footing with a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. The father of Zach Hoffpauir, the former Stanford football player and Northern Colorado football coach who died last week at the age of 26, said the family has donated Hoffpauir's brain to . In a September 2019 interview on Untold, a podcast hosted by fellow former Pac-12 safety Jordan Simone, Zach estimated he had five or six on the record concussions, and that at least two of them came in the 2016 season. He never played Pop Warner. Gratitude became an important part of Zachs healing process. Zach Hoffpauir Age. Zach Hoffpauir Death and Obituary News - What Happened to Zach He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential, wrote Ed McCaffery in a Facebook post after Zachs death. McCaffrey shared similar sentiments, noting Zachs unique passion for leading the players and honesty about his own experiences. The attempt to take his own life came after several life-changing events, including his parents divorce, a breakup and his grandmothers cancer diagnosis. */. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 You can see the history of people like Zach, going slowly downhill. In 2016, he returned to Stanford to resume his football career at free safety. Zach also started coaching back at Centennial High. When Todd Graham had his first Signing Day at Arizona State in February 2012, he felt maybe worse about missing out on Hoffpauir to Stanford than losing out on any other recruit. Family donates brain of Ex-Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir - Yahoo Sports I have nothing else to give.. He texted previous coaches, like Shaw, for advice on how to be a good football coach and honorable leader. 128 to our projected No. He had depression, anxiety and insomnia. Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story | Documentary - YouTube Just imagine what Zachs parents are going through, said Dr. Ann McKee, Director of the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, in a 2021 documentary from Sports360AZ about Zachs life. Zach Hoffpauir (10) Free Safety - As a Fifth-Year Senior (2016) Phil Steele All-Pac-12 preseason third team 10 games played 35 tackles (26 solo), 0.5 tackles
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