Indiana coach dies of brain tumor
What a sad day it must be for the Hoosiers. Terry Hoeppner, hired as Indiana’s head football coach in 2004, has died of a brain tumor at age 59.
He only won 9 games during his time at Indiana, but those who knew him are saying he was nothing short of amazing.
“He has been a second father, a teacher and a friend,” said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was coached by Hoeppner at Miami of Ohio. “He believed in me and I owe everything to him for where I am in life.”
Hoeppner’s first brain tumor was removed in December 2005. Then in September 2006, he found out there was another one.
Players didn’t know the severity of his illness until Tuesday. That to me says a lot about the man. Obviously he wanted the young men on his watch to do what they had to do, without the distraction his illness would certainly bring.
Along with the rest of the college football world, NCAA Endzone offers condolences to Hoeppner’s spouse, Jean, three children and four grandchildren.
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