WTHR |IU community mourns Coach Hoeppner

IU community mourns Coach Hoeppner

Bloomington - Indiana University football coach Terry Hoeppner, 59, died before 7:00 am Tuesday morning in a Bloomington hospital. Officials say his death was a result of complications due to a brain tumor he has battled for 18 months. (Read the university's press release.)

In two and a half years as head coach, Hoeppner brought things IU had not seen in years: excitement, enthusiasm and victories for IU football, including three Big Ten victories in one season. He also put a lot more fans in the stands. Even casual fans say they could see and feel the difference at IU.

"For the first time in long time, people were actually excited about the football program. As opposed to the usual showing up for the tailgate and getting drunk, he was bringing people out, and they were showing up in the stands. People would stay through the fourth quarter which is a rare sight," said IU senior Thomas Baker.

Last week, IU announced that Hoeppner would miss the entire 2007 season because of his failing health, and that assistant coach Bill Lynch would stand in. 

"His fight was courageous and will serve as an inspiration. This is truly a sad day to our community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Hoeppner family and those whose lives he touched," said IU Athletic Director Rick Greenspan.

A ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate an expansion of Memorial Stadium will continue as scheduled Tuesday afternoon with the wishes of the family in keeping with Hoeppner's favorite saying, "Never give up."

The expansion plans include closing in the north end zone with grandstands, additional training facilities and study facilities for IU football players and others.

Hoeppner championed the project, testifying in front of the trustees of IU just a short period after he had brain surgery.

"Here we are again today, putting a shovel in the ground to make this vision a reality," said AD Greenspan in an emotional speech at the ground-breaking. "As I said to Jane earlier this morning, Terry never quit. He just ran out of time-outs."

Michael McRobbie, IU president-elect, said, "Coach Hep brought to IU football a strength of spirit that inspired players, coaches and fans across Bloomington and around the state."

Hoeppner, who went 9-14 in two seasons as Indiana's coach, had taken three medical leaves since December 2005. He hadn't been seen publicly since late February.
     
Hoeppner left the team temporarily three times in 15 months starting in December 2005 when doctors removed a tumor from his right temple a year after athletic director Rick Greenspan hired Hoeppner.
     
His wife, Jane, said in a statement announcing Lynch's hiring that her husband was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He had been hospitalized last week, but was expected to return home Friday.
     
In September, a CT scan revealed another growth in the same area of Hoeppner's brain. When doctors operated a second time, Hoeppner left the team - an absence expected to last two weeks that lasted through spring practice, when he wasn't on the sidelines.

Last year, an upbeat Hoeppner spoke with Eyewitness Sports about the challenges of facing a serious illness. His attitude was an inspiration to his team, and he talked about tapping into his internal strength.

"All of a sudden I'm challenged now. See if you can walk the walk. All the things you've been talking about all those years, can you do what you've been saying? So it's an opportunity for me. It truly is," he said in an April 2006 interview.

Timeline of Coach Hoeppner's history at IU