You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Creative Commons. Zach Hoffpauir, the University of Northern Colorado safeties coach and former two-sport Stanford standout, was anything but a stereotype. Yet through the darkest points in his life, he still prioritized others. College Sports | Two-sport standout at Centennial High and Stanford, Zach Hoffpauir died last week. District co-Most Valuable Players: Holden Butler, senior, Nederland and Angel Valencia, sophomore, Port Neches . We were all lucky to know you for the time we did.. The totality of the damage brought Zachs football career to an end. They passed by the No. More than 800 guests attended Bal Masque XLI, which carried out the theme . Zach Hoffpauir was raw, passionate, outspoken, competitive. He taught me how to enjoy life. So will his legacy at Centennial. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir signs his autograph on the Stanford Cardinals team poster. He hit .258 with 3 home runs in 62 at-bats in Class A ball that summer, then returned to Stanford to resume his football career in 2016. The Mystic Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge celebrated its 41st annual ball Jan. 21 at the Raising Cane's River Center. More:Former Centennial, Stanford multi-sport athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26. . It was May 14, 2020. Find out how. Zach was 26 years old. 17 UCLA No one does. But he never did it from a place of superiority. And so, that was kinda hard, because these are the things that Zach loved, this is where he wanted to be.. Zach Hoffpauir Death and Obituary News - What Happened to Zach Hoffpauir This is a developing story that Zach Hoffpauir may have sadly passed away, according to some statements posted on social media. They passed by the No. "He was so excited to get back to Northern Colorado and try to influence lives beyond football. He went through a suicidal period but appeared to have found peace in the spring of 2020 when he accepted a position on the Northern Colorado coaching staff. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. Zach Simon Obituary (2012) - Gueydan, LA - The Advertiser - Legacy.com Manoj, who has worked as a freelance videographer for Riccio Productions, ZAP Entertainment and Harvard University, is working in the Phoenix Sports Bureau. It was a stripping of identity for me, said Zach about the retirement on the 2019 podcast. Ill never be the same, his mother, Shannon Hoffpauir, said. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Grief Support. He finally found his direction. Every day Zach Hoffpauir gave his love and passion to his family, his teammates and the players he coached. 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. Zach was known for encouraging friends to keep pursuing their faith and shooting the breeze with family friends. 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. 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. The family has asked for time to grieve, he said. 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. He holds a MA from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Theres no way to specify when the disease started. On Untold, Zach shared how a psychologist helped him learn how his sense of self-worth had plummeted after Stanford because he felt he was no longer living up to external expectations. I just dont have the words to express the loss. Zach Hoffpauir making an impact for Stanford Cardinal baseball - ESPN Doug remembers his son saying to him that, there is something wrong with my head. 3) Psychological issues like depression and anxiety. He sought advice for personal growth and mentored others. You dont pass up Stanford, Shannon said. 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. Zach also began seeing mental health professionals. He was like a brother to our boys and recently found his calling as our safeties coach https://t.co/eNYbQB30fv. After games, I was like, I dont feel happy, I feel relieved, but then Im thinking about the next one, and Im all stressed out again, Zach said on the podcast Untold with Jordan Simone in September of 2019. Zach could light up a room like it was nothing, and had this amazing, unique personality. He had a gregarious personality and we all loved him. Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Grabill has interned as a photographer with McGaw YMCA Camp Echo and Phoenix Magazine. At times, you just didnt know what you could do to help him. Reporter Jon Wilner contributed to this story. Stanford was excellent to Zach, he said. As he did with all things, Zach put his all into every hit. TRANSACTIONS - Orlando Sentinel Zach knew something was wrong. 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. Never miss an issue. The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. I never doubted for a second whether or not he had my back. 1 team. All rights reserved. They will let us know when they plan to have a service.. Joyce Ann Hoffpauir. We, as his family, believed that he could do whatever he wanted in life, said Doug. Find Fishing Supplies listings in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. View profile . He was always honest, protected those he loved from the harshness of the world, and celebrated their joys. I didnt have to tell him. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. He enjoyed making new friends and always made a point to keep in contact with them through the years. July 3, 2015: OF Zach Hoffpauir assigned to Hillsboro Hops from . And same for the people who went through it with him. I have nothing else to give.. C hristian McCaffrey posted a photo of Hoffpauir on his Instagram account Friday which began, Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. He called Hoffpauir a true friend and great brother to anyone he knew. ", McCaffrey family hit hard by Hoffpauir's death, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Zachs cousin, J.D. Three Zach Hoffpauir accomplished a great deal, but what he did was not who he was. zachhoff10. (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). Cavness, expressed the same feeling in his eulogy. Praying for the Hoffpauir family during this time.. "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.". They went above and beyond, even when he had concussions. Feb 22, 2023. He taught me how to not give a fuck about what people think about me, and to do it my way. "He had quite a number of what we call lesions in the brain," McKee says in the documentary. Hoffpauir, who was from Glendale, Arizona, was close friends with McCaffreys son, Christian, whos now an All-Pro running back for the Carolina Panthers, when they both attended Stanford. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. A post shared by Zach Hoffpauir (@zachhoff10). He stood for caring for others, said Cavness. The speakers who eulogized Zach had all coached him, played football or baseball with him, or grown up with him. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. But I never knew how much I needed every word. James "Huffy" Hoffpauir passed away suddenly on July 14, 2022, due to heart failure. Zachs physical and mental health were failing him. January 28, 2016: OF Zach Hoffpauir retired. 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. Athletically, Zachs freshman year in Palo Alto was not as prolific as his freshman year at Centennial. That speaking to Zach was like speaking to an adult.. Newly hired UNC assistant coach, former Stanford athlete dies at 26 Sometimes he had so much love for other people, said Christian McCaffery, Zachs Stanford football teammate at the celebration of life. They shared stories about Zach. Zach Hoffpauir: The football coach Greeley didn't get to meet He was named Beat Writer of the Year in 2013 by the Football Writers Association of America for his coverage of the Pac-12, won first place for feature writing in 2016 in the Associated Press Sports Editors writing contest and is a five-time APSE honoree. He certainly isnt mad at Stanford quite the opposite, in fact. In a practice his sophomore year, Taylor saw Zach take a hit so big his helmet rotated 90 degrees across his face. He had a unique ability to understand people from all walks of life.. Ex-Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 Doug Hoffpauir said in the days after his sons death that he was certain Zach did not die by suicide. He was this incredible athlete with this strong exterior, but he really was just a big softie, Zachs cousin, Morgan Williams, said. Zach, 26, died in his sleep May 15 at his fathers home in Arizona. 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. Zach Hoffpauir | Concussion Legacy Foundation At Stanford, Zach thrived on the football and baseball fields. Advertisement. He was good friend's with McCaffrey's son, Christian, a running back for the Carolina Panthers. 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. Zach grew up in Peoria, Arizona receiving a private, Christian education. The Moving can be an exciting experience. People always tell me I was his biggest cheerleader, but he was really mine, Hillary Hoffpauir said. He was like a brother to our boys, Ed McCaffrey said. 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. Hoffpauir was a two-sport athlete at Stanford: a defensive back who was named honorable-mention all-conference and an outfielder selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the 2015 MLB draft. One year after the death of his son, Doug Hoffpauir heard from the brain doctors at Boston University. He quickly made a name for himself on the Centennial freshman football team. Originally published by The Associated Press on May 16, 2020. Zach Hoffpauir Age. More Videos He was 26. Former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 But Zach was just more susceptible it was just the way his body was.. 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. Zach showed me the way when I got to college. 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. He had so much to look forward to. I would tell him that hes the love of my life and he was enough, just him, Shannon Hoffpauir said. So much so, that he decided to pack up his bags and head back to Stanford to complete his senior year and have one more run with Stanford. Hoffpauir played two seasons of minor league ball, in 2015 and 2018, hitting .224 with three homers and nine RBIs in 107 at-bats in rookie and Class-A ball. 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, 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. Of course, he didnt have everything together. Hoffpauir was a multi-sport athlete at Centennial High School and excelled at a variety of sports, including football and basketball. 31, now painted in the team's red and white above the 31-yard line, that will forever represent everything they believed their son, Zach, valued. The family donated his brain to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic EncephalopathyCenter that studies long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma. Former Stanford, Cal MBB coach Mike Montgomery says schools are not keeping up with college changes Stanford aims to bounce back and chase Pac-12 title, Cardinal ranked No At Stanford, Hoffpauir played safety in football and was a star baseball player. The next play, the next at-bat, the next game, the next sport, the next season. Hoffpauir left Stanford in 2015 after being taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the MLB draft and played a minor league season that summer. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found posthumously in the brains of football players. Carl Hoffpauir Obituary (1959 - 2022) - Chalmette, LA - Legacy Zach Hoffpauirs family leads friends on the field at halftime of the Centennial-Hamilton game. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir laughs while he holds an iPad at his family's Christmas celebration. College Sports | Phoenix NBC affiliate KPNX broke the news Thursday. Find an Obituary. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Zach loved sports and the opportunities they gave him, but he loved spending time with people a lot more. Surrounded by her beloved family, Joyce Ann Hoffpauir, 78, passed away Friday, February 17, 2023. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. 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. 418 likes. Ex-Stanford DB Zach Hoffpauir died of accidental overdose: Report According to his mother, he took a Percocet to help him fall asleep and did not know the pill was laced with fentanyl. Zach gave up basketball to focus on football and baseball. In school, Zach was loved by many that knew him for his wit and his engaging personality. He made his return to baseball in 2018, once more splitting time between Montana and Oregon. I am so incredibly saddened that a bright light that could have had such a positive influence on so many lives burnt out way too soon, McCaffrey wrote in an email. To the casual onlooker, it would have seemed Zach had life all figured out. 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. Zach Hoffpauirs legacy undoubtedly lives on in the example he set for how to treat others. On stage at Christs Church of the Valley after Zachs death, Tyler Thorne urged those in attendance to live as Zach did to be completely present for the needs of others. He began working locally, working with high school football teams in the Peoria and Phoenix area, including his old stomping ground, Centennial. Hoffpauir and McCaffrey were teammates at Stanford. Then, COVID came. 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. Apollo Baton Rouge takes 'Expedition' theme for 41st annual ball I got to know him after the freshmen football season was over, cause he also started on the varsity basketball team at point guard as a freshman. Two weeks earlier, Hoffpauir passed away from an accidental overdose at age 26. Low 42F. As the calendar turned his freshman year, Hoffpauir went on to start at point guard on the schools basketball team and nearly hit .400 on the baseball team. Injuries ultimately forced him to retire from playing either sport. 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. He played primarily on special teams in football and struggled mightily in baseball. "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 Hoffpauir. His junior year, Hoffpauir earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a safety in football and as a right fielder in baseball. Hoffpauir played safety and McCaffrey was a running back. Arizona Cardinals facilities grade poorly in anonymous NFLPA poll, Coin collectors unite: National Money Show in Phoenix features rare currency, Desert Botanical Garden nurtures endangered monarchs and native butterflies at Majestic Mariposas exhibit, Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Kyle Lewis looks to swat injury bug and return to form with new club, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone usher in new era of Los Angeles Dodgers pitching, Tiger Woods newest business venture opens its doors in Glendale, Hobbs says state will not proceed for now with court-ordered execution, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. This is not a DEATH NOTICE / OBITUARY, this is a developing story. Hoffpauir passed away on May 14, 2020, and was honored Friday by his alma mater during its game against Hamilton. The school provided no further details. It was compassion, Zach said. All the things you try to instill in your kid, he was doing that. Submit your request today and a dedicated member of the Concussion Legacy Foundation team will be happy to assist you. His death sent shockwaves into the Peoria, Stanford, and broader football community. Zach Hoffpauir, Stanford football and baseball standout, dies at 26 He was good enough to be drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played parts of two minor-league seasons. The brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma in football. But Im sure, you know, Zachs looking down on us and know(s) that hes been honored.. And I said, Thats that Hoffpauir kid that plays football?. It didn . His role, while short, was about so much more than just Xs and Os. Copyright the Concussion Legacy Foundation. The next promising chapter in his life ended suddenly May 15, when Zachary Thomas Hoffpauir, a Glendale native who became a West Valley sports legend, died in his sleep. Fishing Supplies listings in San Francisco, CA - SFGate.com Local He had trouble sleeping as his mind raced at night. Try our free interactive obituary template. UCLA stuns Stanford women in Pac-12 tournament semifinals Family. Zach Ryan SimonGUEYDAN - It's with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Zach Ryan Simon announces his passing from this life on November 17, 2012. She was born October 30, 1944, in Houston to Virble and Hilda Nerren. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Zach Hoffpauir Dies at 26: Cause of Death Still Unknown - Heavy.com He was excited about Colorado football and Northern Colorado. The loss of identity was hard enough, but Zach also endured his parents divorce, his grandmothers lung cancer diagnosis, and a breakup in short succession after he left Stanford. In the documentary, Hoffpauirs mother described a world in which her son lived into middle age. Hoffpauir's parents, Doug and Shannon, were recognized She went on to play volleyball at Lee University in Tennessee. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir, a life taken too soon. 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 . Zach Hoffpauir (R) had 99 tackles in his time at Stanford. You can see the history of people like Zach, going slowly downhill. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. 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. That doesnt tell the story,, Friends remembered Hoffpauir for his energy and personality. All he ever wanted to do was make people proud, and he did, Hillary Hoffpauir said. 0. 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. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Come (his) 40s, he probably would have had either Alzheimers, Lou Gerhigs disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Parkinsons, Shannon said, tears in her eyes. (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. 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.. 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. Yep, thats 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. He also contracted Valley Fever and meningitis. Zach also set an important precedent by talking about his own struggles with mental health and encouraging others to seek help in their darkest hours. Zach even joined his mother for a Mothers Day sermon last year when he shared about his mental health. "To a point it was exhausting talking to him. In a revealing documentary on Hoffpauirs life released this week by Sports360AZ, his mother Shannon said he got the pill from a friend. 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. Life is not just about what you accomplish. Months later, Brain Bank researchers informed the Hoffpauirs that Zach had Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. He was chosen by The Arizona Republic as the greatest football player in Centennial's rich history. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Somethings wrong with me and I dont know what it is, Zach said of his thoughts at the time. To those who knew him, he provided a light that shone in the darkest places and will continue to impact people even in his passing. Hoffpauirs freshman slump was a blip in an otherwise decorated career in Palo Alto. I was totally at peace with it, Doug Hoffpauir said Monday. Former Stanford Football, Baseball Player Zach Hoffpauir Dies at Age 26 Now we better understand why Zach struggled so much during the last few years of his life.. Doug Hoffpauir did not provide a cause of death. Centennial to retire Zach Hoffpauir's No. 31 jersey during on-field Hired in February to coach safeties on Ed McCaffrey's new staff, Hoffpauir coached in the Arizona high school ranks previously.