The university . He persisted and persevered.. Injuries ultimately forced him to retire from playing either sport. David Shaw, who coached Hoffpauir at Stanford, was philosophical about the loss. You can see the history of people like Zach, going slowly downhill. According to his mother, he took a Percocet to help him fall asleep and did not know the pill was laced with fentanyl. Zach Hoffpauir, a former two-sport athlete at Stanford University, died Thursday at the age of 26. 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. He died on May 14, 2020. And so, that was kinda hard, because these are the things that Zach loved, this is where he wanted to be.. 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. Former Stanford Football, Baseball Player Zach Hoffpauir Dies at Age 26 Sormani, who has a self-titled YouTube channel, is working in the Phoenix News Bureau. Zach was the hardest hitter, most aggressive player I ever played against, said McCaffery at the memorial. Ben Copeland, another of Hoffpauirs many friends, may have summed it up best: There will never be another Zach Hoffpauir and thats okay. James Hoffpauir Obituary (1940 - 2022) - Chalmette, LA - Legacy 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, Bears new head football coach Ed McCaffrey wrote on Instagram on Friday. I didnt have to tell him. He then returned to Palo Alto for a fifth-year senior season in 2016. Im done. Zachs father, Doug Hoffpauir, said Zach spent his life taking time to connect with others. He was a young, intelligent coach with limitless potential. He was like a brother to our boys and recently found his calling as our safeties coach at Northern Colorado. Interment will . 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 26. The speakers who eulogized Zach had all coached him, played football or baseball with him, or grown up with him. He left school in 2015 after being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round of the MLB draft. Hoffpauir was known as a hard hitter and suffered at least five documented concussions before medically retiring from football in 2016. Peter Jelovic, Centennial Highs athletic director, said the school was not yet planning a memorial. Glendale native Zach Hoffpauir, who played baseball and football at Stanford University after a brilliant athletic career at Peoria's Centennial High School, died in his sleep May 15. Centennial remembers football standout Zach Hoffpauir, a life taken too soon. I'd talk to him for three hours. After eighth grade, he decided he wanted to attend public school and went to Peorias Centennial High School. Ex-Stanford player Zach Hoffpauir diagnosed with CTE postumously The diagnosis helps explain why Zachs mood and behavior changed so much once he left college. We talked about the little things in life and how to never take for granted a loved one. Former Stanford two-sport standout Zach Hoffpauir, an All-Pac-12 safety who also played minor league baseball for the Diamondbacks, passed away on Thursday in Arizona. (Courtesy of the Hoffpauir family), Zach Hoffpauir holds up a small sign that reads, "Look who's turning 25," on his birthday. Hoffpauir suffered after his years of playing football. He was like a brother to our boys and recently found his calling as our safeties coach https://t.co/eNYbQB30fv. Zach Hoffpauir: Sporting world rocked by death at age 26 - Yahoo! His heart ached to care for them. 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. But as much of a light as he was for others, Zach Hoffpauir struggled to find his way out of his own darkness. It was a tragedy, and a shock to everybody involved. Obituary | Harley Ennis Hoffpauir | Johnson Funeral Home Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found posthumously in the brains of football players. Mostly he loved sharing his life and experiences with our players, who he was born to mentor. 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 knew something was wrong. We were celebrating his accomplishments not knowing that it caused a lot of pressure for him to perform.. Yesterday Heaven gained an angel, and I lost one of my best friends in the world. Living with suspected CTE can be difficult, but CTE is not a death sentence and it is important to maintain hope. 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 had to medically retire due to concussions prior to Stanfords bowl game in 2016. Apollo Baton Rouge takes 'Expedition' theme for 41st annual ball Zach was 26 years old. On Untold, Zach shared how deep his emotional pain went. 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. Joel Hoffpauir Obituary (2014) - Erath, LA - The Advocate On Saturday, May 30, 2020, hundreds gathered at Christs Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona to celebrate the life of Zach Hoffpauir. Sympathy Ideas. Former Florida Gov. He loved coaching those boys, Shannon Hoffpauir said. Sharon "Teda" Hoffpauir Obituary Its startling to see. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. He said his memory wasnt what it used to be, Doug Hoffpauir recalled. 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. No one does. He detailed how in spring 2019 he attempted to take his life by overdosing on Xanax and Benadryl. It made so much sense. At his first soccer game, Zach played like a man among kids, said Doug Hoffpauir. Former Stanford two-sport star Zach Hoffpauir dies at 26 - ESPN.com Zach did not die by suicide, Doug Hoffpauir said. So I went to sleep, then I woke up and I just had this weird feeling. The legacy of Zach Hoffpauir lives on forever at Centennial high school. My AP WBB ballot: Stanford-UCLA starts Cardinals huge week Then came Zachs way out, in the form of the 2015 MLB Draft. I have nothing else to give.. 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). I came back somewhere around 11:30, I was really tired and his door was still shut. Zach Hoffpauir died on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at the age of 26. Centennial coach Richard Taylor always regarded Hoffpair as one of his favorite players to coach because of the way he impacted the team. I believe life is about how you influence others, Shaw tweeted. He was Do tax exemptions apply to costs like burial, cremation and floral arrangements? Zach brought a sparkle to the world that was unlike anything else. She was born October 30, 1944, in Houston to Virble and Hilda Nerren. The passing of this extraordinary talent was devastating to his wide circle. People always tell me I was his biggest cheerleader, but he was really mine, Hillary Hoffpauir said. Hed have been out there, messing with everyone, Doug said. McCaffrey shared similar sentiments, noting Zachs unique passion for leading the players and honesty about his own experiences. (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. 2023 www.azcentral.com. His death revealed the extent of his care toward others. but it can also be stressful. At times, you just didnt know what you could do to help him. 1 team. Carl Hoffpauir Obituary (1959 - 2022) - Chalmette, LA - Legacy Zachs heart was with ASU, Shannon said in the documentary, But pressure from his family, his friends, and himself, influenced Zach into choosing Stanford. Sometimes he had so much love for other people, said Christian McCaffery, Zachs Stanford football teammate at the celebration of life. It lists . He had multiple lesions on the frontal and temporal lobes of his brain. Zach decided to attend Stanford University, where he would continue football and baseball. College Sports | The pills had been laced with fentanyl, according to a report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiners office. Creative Commons. Zach Hoffpauir | Obituary | Beyond the Dash But Hoffpauirs brain was not like that of a normal 20-something. 35: Stanford. Despite never having Zach as a student, she knew him well during his time there. Following his death, Hoffpauirs family donated his brain for concussion research. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Former Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir's brain is being donated to Boston University. Zach Hoffpauir in his own words - YouTube Family. 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. The sad thing about it is that Zach loved this: People, fun times, this is who Zach was. His same ability to connect with people that made him such an outstanding teammate made him an instant fit in coaching. He was an inspiration to all who have faced adversity. Hug your loved ones extra today. I felt helpless because I wanted to fix things for Zach, but I did not know what was really wrong.. 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. Id never seen him happier than in the last couple months.. 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. And there isnt anyone who can tell them whats happening. "He loved his head coach, Ed McCaffrey. Zach knew something was wrong.