May 22, 2020. He was an advocate for people dealing with setbacks. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! His athletic talent and intense loyalty were both on display in a chippy series against rival Cal in April 2015. McCaffery, a running back drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017, was told about Zachs condition and acted without hesitation. She went on to play volleyball at Lee University in Tennessee. 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 . 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. He had depression, anxiety and insomnia. You knew when (Zach) was coming down the hallway. He excelled in both and became one of the best athletes in Centennial history. On Untold, Zach shared how deep his emotional pain went. He wanted to help the players succeed on the field, at home, in class and in the community. The neurologist who diagnosed Zach with Lyme Disease prescribed him medication to help him stay balanced. This documentary sets the story straight and expands on Zach's journey from childhood to mental health struggles in adulthood to the lasting impact he had on. Zach Hoffpauirs family leads friends on the field at halftime of the Centennial-Hamilton game. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential, wrote Ed McCaffery in a Facebook post after Zachs death. He played primarily on special teams in football and struggled mightily in baseball. Share Obituary. Following his death, Hoffpauirs family donated his brain for concussion research. It allowed him to focus on good things in his life, even if those things were having a family or air conditioning. One year after the death of his son, Doug Hoffpauir heard from the brain doctors at Boston University. 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. but it can also be stressful. If that day marks the official start to an athlete's season then Zach Hoffpauir has been in season for 296 days. The statistical production wasnt there yet, but Zach Hoffpauir didnt need to produce on the field to make an impact on his teams. Zach Hoffpauir, one of the greatest athletes in Arizona high school history, died Thursday morning. He stood for caring for others, said Cavness. At the time of his death, he was staying with his father in Arizona during the coronavirus pandemic. Doug Hoffpauir said the opportunity provided a new spark in Zachs life and thanked McCaffrey for taking a chance on his son. 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 . He never lost an argument, or a dance battle, and he said what he meant and meant what he said. Zachs father, Doug, remembers waking up and knowing something was wrong. Copyright the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Zach could light up a room like it was nothing, and had this amazing, unique personality. Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. He also shared how he increased his emotional literacy and was able to name the emotions he was feeling rather than bury them. He made us all proud all the time. Zach decided to attend Stanford University, where he would continue football and baseball. We also knew that this research could help others, and that is exactly what Zach would want.. All rights reserved. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Photos courtesy Stanford University. 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. Zach was 26 years old. While Zachs official cause of death is an accidental overdose, Zachs mother, Shannon, feels that even this label is disingenuous. He finally found his direction. 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. Add a Memory. More than 800 guests attended Bal Masque XLI, which carried out the theme . But even the most gifted focus on just one sport in high school. Zach Hoffpauir, the former Centennial High School football and baseball star who went on to play both sports at Stanford before being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, died of a drug overdose . He made his return to baseball in 2018, once more splitting time between Montana and Oregon. But Zach was just more susceptible it was just the way his body was.. All the concussions he got from playing shortened his career. Inside I was so miserable. Hoffpauir's father, Doug Hoffpauir, confirmed his death to The Arizona Republic. 17 UCLA, My AP WBB ballot: Stanford-UCLA starts Cardinals huge week. Life is not just about what you accomplish. It didn't kill former Stanford football player Zach Hoffpauir, who died . He began working locally, working with high school football teams in the Peoria and Phoenix area, including his old stomping ground, Centennial. Stanford was excellent to Zach, he said. Zach Hoffpauir was 26 years old. (He) loved his family so much and would do anything for the people he cared about. In a practice his sophomore year, Taylor saw Zach take a hit so big his helmet rotated 90 degrees across his face. Thats the last thing he said. I dont want people to think, This could happen to your kid. I mean, it could happen. So will his legacy at Centennial. Ben Copeland, another of Hoffpauirs many friends, may have summed it up best: There will never be another Zach Hoffpauir and thats okay. Their brains should be pristine. He was Do tax exemptions apply to costs like burial, cremation and floral arrangements? The passing of this extraordinary talent was devastating to his wide circle. He died on May 14, 2020. He hit .258 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 62 at-batsbetween rookie and Single-A ball. He said his memory wasnt what it used to be, Doug Hoffpauir recalled. Find Fishing Supplies listings in San Francisco, CALIFORNIA. 3,347 followers. Creative Commons. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. David Shaw, who coached Hoffpauir at Stanford, was philosophical about the loss. Hes like my heartbeat.. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. He detailed how in spring 2019 he attempted to take his life by overdosing on Xanax and Benadryl. On top of the depression and anxiety, he was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2019, which weakened his immune system. He was chosen by The Arizona Republic as the greatest football player in Centennial's rich history. Try our free interactive obituary template. "He loved his head coach, Ed McCaffrey. Stanford women: Brink, Jones power No. He was a true friend and a great brother to anyone he knew. 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. He persisted and persevered.. Hoffpauirs career doesnt fit neatly into the model usually associated with players who display symptoms of CTE later in life. He was everything to everybody. Three Zach Hoffpauir accomplished a great deal, but what he did was not who he was. Never miss an issue. Find out how. zachhoff10. 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. He hit .455 his senior year in high school in 2012 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. Months later, Brain Bank researchers informed the Hoffpauirs that Zach had Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. He made people want to be like him, be like God and be something more. The medical examiners report cited fentanyl toxicity as Hoffpauirs cause of death, according to the KPNX report, noting that it was ruled an accident. That doesnt tell the story,, Friends remembered Hoffpauir for his energy and personality. I could only speculate that started four or five years earlier.. Zach Hoffpauir, left, and Hillary Hoffpauir pose for a siblings photo. At Centennial, Zach was a multi-sport athlete. Last Thursday morning, Zach Hoffpauir passed away at the age of 26. I was able to see, even in his brokenness, he was such an influence on people, Shannon Hoffpauir said. A medical examiner's database says that Hoffpauir, who was only 26 years old, died on May 14. To the general public, Zach Hoffpauir is just an athlete and coach who died too soon. In a game against Hamilton, the Huskies retired Hoffpauir's number 31 jersey in an emotional ceremony. He was like a brother to our boys, Ed McCaffrey said. But I never knew how much I needed every word. 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. He spent one year in their organization (Class-A), then returned to Stanford for the 2016 season to complete his football career. January 28, 2016: OF Zach Hoffpauir retired. The pills had been laced with fentanyl, according to a report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiners office. Zach was the type of person who you could just feel the charisma coming off of him, said Justin Sanchez, a teammate of Zachs on the Centennial football team. Itll be hard, but his life on Earth wasnt easy, either, and he did more good for others than many ever will. Zach took the job as a defensive backs coach at NCU. Once college was over, Zach struggled with the lack of a next.. Hoffpauir was a standout safety who made All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014. Rare two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, By Tom Scanlon, Glendale Star Managing Editor. The news hit Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and his family hard. *** 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. Zach struggled with severe depression and anxiety and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir, a life taken too soon. He was 26. He made 137 more in high school and was in on hundreds of others playing running back and wide receiver. The son of Doug and Shannon Hoffpauir and older brother of Hillary Hoffpauir, Zachary Hoffpauir graduated from Centennial in 2012. But Hoffpauirs brain was not like that of a normal 20-something. I cant take this anymore. 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. A year ago, the college sports world was stunned after former Stanford defensive back Zach Hoffpauir died suddenly at the young age of 26. It didn . James "Huffy" Hoffpauir passed away suddenly on July 14, 2022, due to heart failure. He was the friend who picked up the phone. So I went to sleep, then I woke up and I just had this weird feeling. He was the uniter in his family and in his locker rooms. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Former Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir died Thursday. Now all of a sudden, sports became a business, Doug said in the Sports360AZ documentary. They passed by the No. It has been 296 days since the Stanford football team opened fall camp to begin . Zachs heart was with ASU, Shannon said in the documentary, But pressure from his family, his friends, and himself, influenced Zach into choosing Stanford. Tell their story, and publish it online for free. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The brain disease is linked to repeated head trauma in football. 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. Several themes emerged from their tearful tributes. He always said 'hashtag CTE'.". My family wanted answers to help us process the loss of Zach, said Doug. Of course, he didnt have everything together. The family donated his brain to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic EncephalopathyCenter that studies long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma. 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. 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. "People always thought I was the happiest guy, Hoffpauir said on Untold. He clicked with junior safety Jamond Dubose on day one, talking for two hours about life and their similar experiences. Zach knew something was wrong. The medical examiner's report is not yet complete and does not yet list a cause of death. His brain was later studied at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, where researchers diagnosed him with Stage 2 (of 4) CTE. Everything he wanted to accomplish, he did.. He was just a light, said Tyler Thorne, Zachs Stanford baseball teammate, at his memorial service. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, center, smiles for a photo with his mother, Shannon, right, and sister Hillary. If it was not for his close friend and former football teammate at Stanford, Christian McCaffery, Zach may have never learned the real source for all of his mental health issues. 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.". Although he had a plethora of offers from Division I colleges for baseball or football, Zach wanted to play both. Zach Hoffpauir (R) had 99 tackles in his time at Stanford. Doug Hoffpauir wants the world to know that even now, 15 months later, with the CTE diagnosis confirmed, he isnt mad. 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. Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content. The next play, the next at-bat, the next game, the next sport, the next season. Doug Hoffpauir said Dubose called him and said Zach was an angel and he saved (his) life.. Doug said the university reached out the day after news broke about his son's death to . 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. *** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to [email protected] or call 408-920-5716. Zach brought a sparkle to the world that was unlike anything else. 31 jersey retired this month. He was good enough to be drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and played parts of two minor-league seasons. 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. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR. It was not meant to be, however, as Zach would hang up the gloves for a final time and head back to Arizona. Hoffpauir was 26 at the time of his passing this past spring, just a few . He taught me how to not give a fuck about what people think about me, and to do it my way. Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, a defender who has also been capped by Italy 14 times, has died, the club EDMONTON A Edmonton homeless man whose spontaneous piano performance was viewed on theinternetby millions ofpeople has died. That he didnt have enough love for himself.. 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. He had multiple lesions on the frontal and temporal lobes of his brain. Im done. Zach's family . 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. Zach Ertz, a Stanford teammate who is now an NFL standout with the Philadelphia Eagles, was one of many to express his emotions on social media. College Sports | Instead, he used those to connect with others. May 21, 2020. zachhoff10. The attempt to take his own life came after several life-changing events, including his parents divorce, a breakup and his grandmothers cancer diagnosis. A mass of Christi They will let us know when they plan to have a service.. 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He loved coaching those boys, Shannon Hoffpauir said. People from all walks of life were invited to his Peoria, Arizona, service to pay respects and remember the honor it was to have known him. 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. Today at No. "To a point it was exhausting talking to him. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Former Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir's brain is being donated to Boston University. Details are here, and thanks for your support. 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 was 26. 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. He had 11 rushing touchdowns and 59 tackles, eight for losses, and six interceptions, making The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona team. They offered him four amazing years., Im not anti-football, he said. Mary Grace Grabill expects to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelors degree in journalism and a minor in film production. Zach, 26, died in his sleep May 15 at his father's home in Arizona. Survivors include her loving husband of 58 years, Ivy Lee Hoffpauir, 3 children, Dwayne Hoffpauir and wife Valerie, Kevin Hoffpauir and wife . Sometimes he had so much love for other people, said Christian McCaffery, Zachs Stanford football teammate at the celebration of life. Doug could tell he was cognizant of and upset by his mood changes. 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. I just want to feel normal., I walked through his darkest days right by his side, said Doug. 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. The head coach was Ed McCaffrey, the father of former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey one of Hoffpauirs best friends. He was good friend's with McCaffrey's son, Christian, a running back for the Carolina Panthers. To the casual onlooker, it would have seemed Zach had life all figured out. 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. Its probably what the public will remember him for. Living with suspected CTE can be difficult, but CTE is not a death sentence and it is important to maintain hope. 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. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir, right, takes a photo with his family, including his step brothers and step mother. Cronkite News, the news division of Arizona PBS, is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He would have been 82 on his birthday, August 20. 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. 1 of 2 Zach Hoffpauir (10) participates in a scrimmage with Stanford Cardinal teammates in Palo Alto, Calif. on Saturday, April 2, 2016. That one percocet, meant to be his release, turned out to be his end. The pathology of the disease follows four stages, from I (mild) to IV (severe). In a revealing documentary on Hoffpauirs life released this week by Sports360AZ, his mother Shannon said he got the pill from a friend. 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. We wont find out for over a year, Doug Hoffpauir told this news organization at the time. I would tell him to breathe deep with Jesus and I would see him soon.. One Zach Hoffpauir was unwaveringly committed to his faith and to his family. 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. 197,654 likes. The Coyotes went 11-2, losing to Scottsdale Chaparral 31-30 in the state semifinals. He was 26. He told Shaw how he had identified the most important quality in any great coach was not discipline, communication, or any tactical trait. Former Centennial, Stanford multi-sport athlete Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26, Zach Hoffpauir remembered for compassion, friendship during powerful celebration of life, Family donates former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir's brain for CTE research, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. College Sports | Hoffpauir suffered after his years of playing football. Reporter Jon Wilner contributed to this story. Zach did not die by suicide, Doug Hoffpauir said. Jayden Sormani expects to graduate December 2021 with a bachelors degree in sports journalism. Two Zach Hoffpauir danced well and danced often. After the attempt, he began finding healing through a combination of medication, therapy, and self-reflection. View all 23 comments. I would tell him that hes the love of my life and he was enough, just him, Shannon Hoffpauir said. 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. Zach Hoffpauir, 26, died in his sleep, according to a release from the athletic department. His heart ached to care for them. Sympathy Ideas. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. 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. Zach grew up in Peoria, Arizona receiving a private, Christian education. . He was recently hired as an assistant coach for Northern Colorado as his minor league baseball career was officially . Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. Low 42F. For most his life, Zach Hoffpauir was guided forward by sports. Surrounded by her beloved family, Joyce Ann Hoffpauir, 78, passed away Friday, February 17, 2023. He did things the right way. According to his mother, he took a Percocet to help him fall asleep and did not know the pill was laced with fentanyl. Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent OF Zach Hoffpauir to a minor league contract. McCaffrey shared similar sentiments, noting Zachs unique passion for leading the players and honesty about his own experiences. Praying for the Hoffpauir family during this time.. Hoffpauir died on May 14 . I felt helpless because I wanted to fix things for Zach, but I did not know what was really wrong.. ", More:Family donates former Centennial, Stanford athlete Zach Hoffpauir's brain for CTE research. Zach could sit with the lowest of the low and knew how to show up for people. This beautiful, talented, incredibly intelligent young man dying at 26 with the ravages of this disease in his brain.. Id never seen him happier than in the last couple months.. If someone needed a listening ear, advice or a shoulder to cry on, he was there and it wasnt a burden. On the field, Zach excelled in baseball and football, and earned All-American honors for both. Feb 22, 2023. No cause of death for the former Stanford football and baseball player has been released. Once again, the sleepless nights began.