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. Former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 Stanford was excellent to Zach, he said. Find Fishing Supplies listings in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. At that time, McCaffrey and other Stanford teammates returned to the Valley for a dinner on the anniversary of Hoffpauir's death. The legacy of Zach Hoffpauir lives on forever at Centennial high school. They offered him four amazing years., Im not anti-football, he said. Zach even joined his mother for a Mothers Day sermon last year when he shared about his mental health. Sign up for free today. Whatever Zach Hoffpauir touched, he excelled in. Ex-Stanford player Zach Hoffpauir diagnosed with CTE postumously Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. He had multiple lesions on the frontal and temporal lobes of his brain. Doug Hoffpauir said Dubose called him and said Zach was an angel and he saved (his) life.. Watch over us. "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. Hoffpauir suffered after his years of playing football. He had trouble sleeping as his mind raced at night. In the late stages of last week, it was revealed that former Stanford Cardinal multi-sport athlete Zach Hoffpauir, who passed away in May, had died due to an accidental overdose, according to a report citing the county medical examiner in his native Arizona.. More Videos 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. She was born October 30, 1944, in Houston to Virble and Hilda Nerren. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir - Arizona PBS David Shaw, who coached Hoffpauir at Stanford, was philosophical about the loss. The thing I will always remember about him, outside of his great abilities in football and baseball, was he always made everybody around him better, Taylor said. After he medically retired from football and left Stanford, Hoffpauir suffered from Valley fever, Meningitis and a form of Lyme disease. Reverend Zach Sasser, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, will officiate. 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. But on May 14, while living with his father in Phoenix during the pandemic, Hoffpauir took a Percocet to help him sleep and never woke up. 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 rooted for the underdogs. Zachs physical and mental health were failing him. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir 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. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. Zach Hoffpauir, a former football and baseball player at Stanford, died in May of an accidental drug overdose, according to a report citing county medical examiner records in his native Arizona . 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. He certainly isnt mad at Stanford quite the opposite, in fact. I had a teacher come up and tell me once, said Taylor. Despite being an athletic supernova, Zach remained remarkably humble. After eighth grade, he decided he wanted to attend public school and went to Peorias Centennial High School. Id never seen him happier than in the last couple months.. Injuries ultimately forced him to retire from playing either sport. 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. Creative Commons. Zachs heart was with ASU, Shannon said in the documentary, But pressure from his family, his friends, and himself, influenced Zach into choosing Stanford. And there isnt anyone who can tell them whats happening. . Zach would come back to Arizona, medically retired from football. On Saturday, May 30, 2020, hundreds gathered at Christs Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona to celebrate the life of Zach Hoffpauir. Ex-Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 christianmccaffrey. His natural athletic talent led him to success at Centennial High School in Arizona, Stanford and a brief stint with a Minor League Baseball team. His brain was later studied at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, where researchers diagnosed him with Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. Zach treated his cousins like siblings and friends like family. Zachs father, Doug, remembers waking up and knowing something was wrong. Details are here, and thanks for your support. 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. Zach Hoffpauir was 26 years old. Support the Hotline: Receive three months of unlimited access for just 99 cents. Several themes emerged from their tearful tributes. The head coach was Ed McCaffrey, the father of former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey one of Hoffpauirs best friends. His role, while short, was about so much more than just Xs and Os. But I never knew how much I needed every word. At the Centennial event, Doug refused to let the pain of his familys loss and the communitys loss bring down this night of celebration. They passed by the No. Doug said the university reached out the day after news broke about his son's death to . College Sports | But as he played through those first three years, he began to feel the effects of playing two sports at an elite collegiate level, while also meeting the academic standards of a college like Stanford. Former Stanford Football, Baseball Player Zach Hoffpauir Dies at Age 26 Hoffpauir didnt start tackle football until eighth grade and never played in the NFL. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. He hit .258 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 62 at-batsbetween rookie and Single-A ball. This fentanyl crap is everywhere, Doug Hoffpauir said. He had to medically retire due to concussions prior to Stanfords bowl game in 2016. We were all lucky to know you for the time we did.. Their diagnosis brought immense clarity and a morsel of relief. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The rookie coach made an early impact on his players. Now all of a sudden, sports became a business, Doug said in the Sports360AZ documentary. The sad thing about it is that Zach loved this: People, fun times, this is who Zach was. ", Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. He made a difference in the life of every person he met.. With Zach preparing for his first season at NCU, he spoke with Shaw about the craft. He was our he was kinda like our heartbeat honestly, he was the personality of the team.. He quickly made a name for himself on the Centennial freshman football team. , A post shared by Christian McCaffrey (@christianmccaffrey) on May 15, 2020 at 8:07am PDT. He was 26. "He's like my heartbeat.". Family donates brain of Ex-Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir - Yahoo Sports Dolores was born December 26, 1932 in Shreveport and grew up in Leesville. 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. 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir and P . He was born to Shannon Hoffpauir, Doug Hoffpauir, According to AZCentral, Hoffpauir was staying with his dad in Arizona during the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis. 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. While his mental state never got down to where it was before, it was enough to keep him up night after night. 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 . At the time of his death, he was staying with his father in Arizona during the coronavirus pandemic. Zach knew something was wrong. A Mass of Christian Burial for Joel Norman Hoffpauir, 48, will be 11:00AM Wednesday December 3, 2014 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath with Rev. But even the most gifted focus on just one sport in high school. Zach Hoffpauir documentary shows his impact in life before his death Today at No. Cognitive deterioration is the hallmark of CTE, and you rarely see it in 20- and 30-year-olds.. The family does not expect results from the local autopsy for two or three months and the CTE study will likely take a year or more. On a podcast hosted by former Arizona State football player Jordan Simone, Zach Hoffpaiur said he had suffered five or six concussions in his football career and had attempted suicide last year. "I'll never be the same," his mother, Shannon Hoffpauir, said. Though concussions derailed his dreams of playing pro football, Hoffpauir was a member of three Pac 12 champion football teams, played in two Rose Bowls and was an All-Pac 12 honorable mention. While Zachs official cause of death is an accidental overdose, Zachs mother, Shannon, feels that even this label is disingenuous. Stanford ex-player Zach Hoffpauir, who died, 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 player Zach Hoffpauir, who died accidentally, diagnosed with startling CTE levels, Pac-12 recruiting: Huge weekend for Cal while Oregon and L.A. schools also welcome 2024 recruits, Mailbag: Kliavkoffs risky strategy with Pac-12 media rights, Pac-12 basketball Hot Seat breakdown: Decisions loom as March arrives, Best of the West: Our predictions for the mens WCC tournament, Predictions for Pac-12 media rights, network partners and expansion. The family of Zach Hoffpauir is hoping some good can come out of tragedy. 2) Emotional problems, including poor decision-making, impulsiveness and the tendency to lash out. College and professional athletes, particularly football players, often get unfairly stereotyped. He was the definition of a natural athlete. His death revealed the extent of his care toward others. He was a true friend and a great brother to anyone he knew. His junior year, Hoffpauir earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a safety in football and as a right fielder in baseball. ", More:Family donates former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir's brain for CTE research. May 21, 2020. He persisted and persevered.. And that would have been really hard for Zachary to endure, and to watch himself deteriorate.. He made his return to baseball in 2018, once more splitting time between Montana and Oregon. Zach Hoffpauir Death and Obituary News - What Happened to Zach "People always thought I was the happiest guy, Hoffpauir said on Untold. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found posthumously in the brains of football players. 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. Former Stanford player Zach Hoffpauir, who died accidentally, diagnosed Its hard to find people who when youre around them and theyre truly present, said Thorne. Zach Hoffpauir, one of the greatest athletes in Arizona high school history, died Thursday morning. The mini explosions were always followed by apologies. College Sports | Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. After the attempt on his life, Zach slowly found his footing with a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. Yet through the darkest points in his life, he still prioritized others. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. Months later, Brain Bank researchers informed the Hoffpauirs that Zach had Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. So will his legacy at Centennial. Come (his) 40s, he probably would have had either Alzheimers, Lou Gerhigs disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Parkinsons, Shannon said, tears in her eyes. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, center, shows off his well-known dance moves with his Stanford teammates before a bowl game in 2016. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found posthumously in the brains of football players. I cant take this anymore. Our prayers are with the Hoffpauir family, though Zach, you are always with us.. Local Sports Things To Do Business eNewspaper Politics USA TODAY Obituaries Travel. He detailed how in spring 2019 he attempted to take his life by overdosing on Xanax and Benadryl. The university . Zach showed me the way when I got to college. Who is Zach Hoffpauir? Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Cause of Death All the concussions he got from playing shortened his career. 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. One year after the death of his son, Doug Hoffpauir heard from the brain doctors at Boston University. 2-sport athlete Zach Hoffpauir '16 dies at 26 - The Stanford Daily Carl Hoffpauir Obituary (1959 - 2022) - Chalmette, LA - Legacy 418 likes. 1) Cognitive impairment, such as memory loss and difficulty with problem solving. He was recently hired as an assistant coach for Northern Colorado as his minor league baseball career was officially . (Photo by Mary Grace Grabill/Cronkite News). All rights reserved. In school, Zach was loved by many that knew him for his wit and his engaging personality. Zach, 26, died in his sleep May 15 at his fathers home in Arizona. 17 UCLA After Stanford and the finality of not being able to play beyond college, he struggled with what to do in life, said Doug Hoffpauir. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. At Stanford, Hoffpauir played safety in football and was a star baseball player. A University of Northern Colorado press release stated Hoffpauir made a strong, positive impact in his short time there. If Id have known the extent of his outlay beyond sports, I dont know if I wouldve said anything. 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. Everything he wanted to accomplish, he did.. Once college was over, Zach struggled with the lack of a next.. 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. View profile . Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir, a life taken too soon. Instead, he used those to connect with others. Send Flowers. Photos courtesy Stanford University. 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. We wont find out for over a year, Doug Hoffpauir told this news organization at the time. That was his heart.. Zach Hoffpauir Dies at 26: Cause of Death Still Unknown - Heavy.com He also shared how he increased his emotional literacy and was able to name the emotions he was feeling rather than bury them. All rights reserved. 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. 2023 www.azcentral.com. 31, now painted in the teams red and white above the 31-yard line, that will forever represent everything they believed their son Zach valued. Hoffpauir was with his father, Doug, in Arizona during the coronavirus pandemic. To what degree was CTE involved in Zachs deteriorating emotional and psychological state? Hoffpauir was a standout safety who made All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014. I believe life is about how you influence others, Shaw tweeted. He did things the right way. Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey plays big role with veterans Low 42F. 35: Stanford. 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. 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. Reporter Jon Wilner contributed to this story. 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). You knew when (Zach) was coming down the hallway. Get Fishing Supplies listings phone numbers, driving directions, business addresses, maps and more. I didnt have to tell him. 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. January 28, 2016: OF Zach Hoffpauir retired. I just want to feel normal., I walked through his darkest days right by his side, said Doug. 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. Zach Hoffpauirs legacy undoubtedly lives on in the example he set for how to treat others. Originally published by The Associated Press on May 16, 2020. Coincidence? In the documentary, Hoffpauirs mother described a world in which her son lived into middle age. "He's someone every time I call him, he was totally present," McCaffrey says in the anniversary dinner speech that is in the documentary. His father confirmed the death to the Arizona Republic but did not provide a cause. Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content. Hed be in your heart.. After the attempt, he began finding healing through a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. We, as his family, believed that he could do whatever he wanted in life, said Doug. We remember things through stories, and we forget things when we take down the things that mean so much to us, we cant tell those stories anymore. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir holds up a small sign that reads, "Look who's turning 25," on his birthday. He did things the right way. Then, COVID came. Zach Hoffpauir: Sporting world rocked by death at age 26 - Yahoo! Following his death, Hoffpauirs family donated his brain for concussion research. And we connect in weaknesses.. 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. Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. Zach loved sports and the opportunities they gave him, but he loved spending time with people a lot more. They played football together at Stanford. Zach struggled with severe depression and anxiety and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease. Ill never be the same, his mother, Shannon Hoffpauir, said. Stanford aims to bounce back and chase Pac-12 title, Cardinal ranked No This beautiful, talented, incredibly intelligent young man dying at 26 with the ravages of this disease in his brain.. A standout on Stanford's football and baseball teams, Hoffpauir helped the Cardinal win . Brink, Jump lead No. My testosterone levels were almost gone. Their brains should be pristine. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. Brain of Stanford standout Hoffpauir will be donated to noted CTE program Zach grew up in Peoria, Arizona receiving a private, Christian education. Two weeks earlier, Hoffpauir passed away from an accidental overdose at age 26. UCLA stuns Stanford women in Pac-12 tournament semifinals Zach Hoffpauir: The Real Story | Documentary - YouTube At Stanford, his three-year totals were 11 homers, 58 RBIs and a career .295 batting average. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential.. My dopamine levels were zero. Feb 22, 2023. After his suicide attempt, Zach began practicing gratitude in a more intentional way. Christian McCaffrey was his best friend. 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. It lists . Zach was 26 years old. He was like a brother to our boys and recently found his calling as our safeties coach https://t.co/eNYbQB30fv. The Coyotes went 11-2, losing to Scottsdale Chaparral 31-30 in the state semifinals. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR. Cavness, expressed the same feeling in his eulogy. Maybe not. It was not meant to be, however, as Zach would hang up the gloves for a final time and head back to Arizona. "It was riddled with CTE lesions.". He told people about his faith, allowed people to confide in him and provided happiness for others. A mass of Christi 17 UCLA, My AP WBB ballot: Stanford-UCLA starts Cardinals huge week. As he did with all things, Zach put his all into every hit. But Hoffpauir sustained several concussions during his career and displayed many of the classic CTE symptoms, including mood swings, depression and memory loss. Zach Hoffpauir making an impact for Stanford Cardinal baseball - ESPN To view and sign the Family Guestbook, please visit www . Doug Hoffpauir, Zach's father, told Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic in a text message about . He was 26. It changed his life, Doug Hoffpauir said. 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. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. 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. He was good enough to be drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played parts of two minor-league seasons. Former Stanford football player Zach Hoffpauir posthumously - SFGATE