Hoffpauir's parents, Doug and Shannon, were recognized They went above and beyond, even when he had concussions. To the casual onlooker, it would have seemed Zach had life all figured out. January 28, 2016: OF Zach Hoffpauir retired. 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. But this time, Zach entered a deep funk. 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. He said his memory wasnt what it used to be, Doug Hoffpauir recalled. Zach had been staying with his father in the Valley during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. He was like a brother to our boys, Ed McCaffrey said. And there isnt anyone who can tell them whats happening. Zach decided to attend Stanford University, where he would continue football and baseball. Yet through the darkest points in his life, he still prioritized others. Clear to partly cloudy. I'd talk to him for three hours. Details are here, and thanks for your support. In school, Zach was loved by many that knew him for his wit and his engaging personality. It didn't kill former Stanford football player Zach Hoffpauir, who died . The University of Northern Colorado football team honored its former assistant coach Zach Hoffpauir, who died unexpectedly in May 2020. 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.. 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. It didnt matter where they came from, how much money they made, what they looked like or what their life experiences were. The son of Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir and older brother of Hillary Hoffpauir, Zachary Hoffpauir graduated from Centennial in 2012. He had trouble sleeping as his mind raced at night. Out of the limelight, away from the studies and the pressures around him, Zach found his respite and could focus on keeping himself at peace and playing baseball. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26. He had a gregarious personality and we all loved him. He was our he was kinda like our heartbeat honestly, he was the personality of the team.. He played primarily on special teams in football and struggled mightily in baseball. McCaffrey shared similar sentiments, noting Zachs unique passion for leading the players and honesty about his own experiences. 35: Stanford. District co-Most Valuable Players: Holden Butler, senior, Nederland and Angel Valencia, sophomore, Port Neches . The results provided closure, said Doug. 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. He didn't play football at Stanford in 2015 and returned for his senior season in 2016. 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. 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. He always said hashtag CTE.. Ex-Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26. He broke the mold and spent his life helping others do the same no matter what kind of mold they were supposed to fit into. One year after the death of his son, Doug Hoffpauir heard from the brain doctors at Boston University. He told people about his faith, allowed people to confide in him and provided happiness for others. The news hit Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and his family hard. 3 Cardinal past No. Sormani, who has a self-titled YouTube channel, is working in the Phoenix News Bureau. All the things you try to instill in your kid, he was doing that. Hoffpauir didnt start tackle football until eighth grade and never played in the NFL. Zach Hoffpauir was 26 years old. Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. You could just feel the charisma coming off of him, Justin Sanchez said. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joyec Ann Hoffpauir (Rosenberg, Texas), born in Houston, Texas, who passed away on February 17, 2023, at the age of 78, leaving to mourn family and friends. Three Zach Hoffpauir accomplished a great deal, but what he did was not who he was. He loved coaching those boys, Shannon Hoffpauir said. But now it makes so much sense. He died of fentanyl toxicity. All rights reserved. For most his life, Zach Hoffpauir was guided forward by sports. 2023 Cronkite News. Their diagnosis brought immense clarity and a morsel of relief. The news broke last Thursday via an NBC affiliate in Phoenix. ", More:Family donates former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir's brain for CTE research. 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. You can see the history of people like Zach, going slowly downhill. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? 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. In 2016, he returned to Stanford to resume his football career at free safety. But Hoffpauir sustained several concussions during his career and displayed many of the classic CTE symptoms, including mood swings, depression and memory loss. Although he had a plethora of offers from Division I colleges for baseball or football, Zach wanted to play both. Months later, Brain Bank researchers informed the Hoffpauirs that Zach had Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. He always said 'hashtag CTE'.". Its probably what the public will remember him for. 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. Zach even joined his mother for a Mothers Day sermon last year when he shared about his mental health. 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. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Life without Zach Hoffpauir wont be easy for those who loved him. Doug remembers his son saying to him that, there is something wrong with my head. The diagnosis helps explain why Zachs mood and behavior changed so much once he left college. McCaffrey, 23, on Friday posted a picture of Hoffpauir on Instagram with the message, "Yesterday, Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. McCaffery, a running back drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, was told about Zachs condition and acted without hesitation. All the concussions he got from playing shortened his career. 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. With Zach preparing for his first season at NCU, he spoke with Shaw about the craft. Hoffpauir was 26 years old. He was the definition of a natural athlete. 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. Hug your loved ones extra today. August 25, 2021 8:12 am PT. Following his death, Hoffpauirs family donated his brain for concussion research. I had a teacher come up and tell me once, said Taylor. 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. At Zachs celebration of life, Stanford administrator Ron Lynn described Zach as a young man with an old soul. Centennial Highs football coach Richard Taylor added a similar sentiment. Hoffpauir was a multi-sport athlete at Centennial High School and excelled at a variety of sports, including football and basketball. 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. Medical examiners will perform an autopsy on his body, and the family donated his brain to Boston University for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) research. Hired in February to coach safeties on Ed McCaffrey's new staff, Hoffpauir coached in the Arizona high school ranks previously. After graduating from Stanford, Hoffpauirs physical and mental health declined. 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. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. With the right diagnosis and the right medication, Zach was on his comeback trail. Are you or someone you know struggling with lingering concussion symptoms or possible CTE? Hoffpauir is hoping to regain his starting position at . It has been 296 days since the Stanford football team opened fall camp to begin . Photos courtesy Stanford University. The father said at the time that the Hoffpauir family had donated Zachs brain to concussion research. 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. It made so much sense. So I went to sleep, then I woke up and I just had this weird feeling. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in elementary education and minors in teaching English as a second language and sociology. Life is not just about what you accomplish. Doug said the university reached out the day after news broke about his son's death to . He wanted to help the players succeed on the field, at home, in class and in the community. We are more similar than we are different, said Zach. "He's someone every time I call him, he was totally present," McCaffrey says in the anniversary dinner speech that is in the documentary. Zach loved sports and the opportunities they gave him, but he loved spending time with people a lot more. zachhoff10. When, how and why music should be incorporated into a funeral service, How to create a personal tribute to the life of your loved one, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson "The Big Bopper" and Roger Peterson, Making the holiday season bearable during grief. No matter where they came from, no matter their circumstances.. But I never knew how much I needed every word. Find an Obituary. Prior to high school, Zach played one year of eight-on-eight tackle football. We, as his family, believed that he could do whatever he wanted in life, said Doug. 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. I never doubted for a second whether or not he had my back. Its so sad.. Sharon "Teda" Hoffpauir A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, 11 a.m., at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for Sharon "Teda" Hoffpauir, 66, who died Thursday, June 23, 2022 in Crowley, La, surrounded by her loving family. Then, COVID came. Zach Hoffpauirs legacy undoubtedly lives on in the example he set for how to treat others. 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. 2) Emotional problems, including poor decision-making, impulsiveness and the tendency to lash out. 17 UCLA He was a cowboy and a coach, a fisherman and a dancer. More than 800 guests attended Bal Masque XLI, which carried out the theme . He clicked with junior safety Jamond Dubose on day one, talking for two hours about life and their similar experiences. As he grew up, he would hit socks across his home with a spatula. Sign up for free today. Instead, Zach found his favorite part of football. Gratitude became an important part of Zachs healing process. That was his heart.. RELATED STORY The Chelan County Natural Resource Department 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. The world lost a legendary friend and family member, said Cara Burkholder, longtime friend. 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.". Doug Hoffpauir said Dubose called him and said Zach was an angel and he saved (his) life.. Here's everything we know, Richardson sets QB mark for vertical, broad jump, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations. Hoffpauir played safety and McCaffrey was a running back. He spent one year in their organization (Class-A), then returned to Stanford for the 2016 season to complete his football career. Normally, Doug says Zach would be able to rebound quickly from things. Hoffpauir was with his father in . "It was riddled with CTE lesions.". (Courtesy of Shannon Hoffpauir), Zach Hoffpauir, left, poses for a photo with his cousin, Morgan Williams, at the family's 2019 Christmas Celebration. Centennial coach Richard Taylor always regarded Hoffpair as one of his favorite players to coach because of the way he impacted the team. Zach had previously detailed some of his experiences with depression, which can be a symptom of chronic traumatic encephalopathy the degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma in football and other sports. Injuries ultimately forced him to retire from playing either sport. And so, that was kinda hard, because these are the things that Zach loved, this is where he wanted to be.. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. Every day Zach Hoffpauir gave his love and passion to his family, his teammates and the players he coached. But I would fake it.". Brad Cesmat, founder and CEO of Sports360AZ.com, said that he first approached Shannon and Doug about doing a documentary on their son in mid-May. College and professional athletes, particularly football players, often get unfairly stereotyped. Hope Hoffpauir Obituary. Former Peoria Centennial football/baseball star Zach Hoffpauir, one of the greatest athletes in Arizona high school history, died Thursday morning, his father Doug told The Arizona Republic. This fentanyl crap is everywhere, Doug Hoffpauir said. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries . In a practice his sophomore year, Taylor saw Zach take a hit so big his helmet rotated 90 degrees across his face. Christian McCaffrey was his best friend. Dont mess with his friends, dont mess with his family, said Lynn. Send Flowers. He had so much to look forward to. Talented young athletes often dominate several sports in elementary school and even high school. Hoffpauir was a safety for four seasons on the Cardinal football team, winning three Pac-12 titles and two Rose Bowls. He was good enough to be drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played parts of two minor-league seasons. Grief Support. You dont pass up Stanford, Shannon said. I dont want people to think, This could happen to your kid. I mean, it could happen. Soon after, the Hoffpauirs sent Zachs brain to Boston University for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy research where it was determined he had already progressed to stage two CTE. 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. zachhoff10. christianmccaffrey. Find Fishing Supplies listings in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. On the field, Zach excelled in baseball and football, and earned All-American honors for both. 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.