Indianapolis is My Home

19
Jun

IU Football Coach Terry Hoeppner Dies

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Colleges, Sports

After battling brain cancer and the associated problems and surgeries, Terry Hoeppner has passed away. Terry has been the head football coach at the Indiana University since 2005 and was the person responsible for giving the nickname “The Rock” to the stadium after he had a huge, limestone boulder moved into the in-zone before he started his first season.

IU team physician Dr. Larry Rink confirmed in a statement that Hoeppner was being treated for the brain tumor over the past 18 months. During Hoeppner’s illness the school released few details about his condition or treatment, citing federal privacy laws and the family’s desire not to make the illness public.

Hoeppner, who went 9-14 in two seasons, had taken three medical leaves since December 2005. He hadn’t been seen publicly since late February. Late last week, the school said assistant Bill Lynch would replace him as coach for the 2007 season.

In December 2005, doctors removed a tumor from his right temple a year after IU athletic director Rick Greenspan hired Hoeppner. In September, a CT scan revealed another growth in the same area of Hoeppner’s brain.

Although I’d never really followed IU’s football program, I was inspired by the ongoing news of Coach Hoeppner’s fight with cancer and how his players and friends saw him as a real inspiration for never giving up on the battle.

We wish his family the best and pray for peace and strength to all those left behind that miss him dearly.

• Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner dies - Yahoo! Sports

• IU football coach Hoeppner dies - IndyStar

• Indiana football coach Hoeppner dies of complications from brain tumor - ESPN News