Former USU football assistant coach dies in car accident

Former USU football assistant coach dies in car accident


Save Story
Leer en espaƱol

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Press release EFFINGHAM, Ill. -- Jeff Hoover, an assistant football coach at Utah State from 2000-2004 and most recently an assistant at Eastern Illinois, was killed Saturday night in a car crash as he returned home from a playoff game against Southern Illinois. He was 41.

Hoover and his family were riding with strength coach Eric Cash and his family late Saturday when their Chevrolet Suburban swerved to miss a deer and rolled over just south of Effingham, athletic department spokesman Rich Moser said Sunday.

Two children also in the vehicle have been released from the hospital, while a third child is being held for observation, Moser said. Cash, wife Sherri and Hoover's wife, Penny, are in stable condition at Carle Hospital in Champaign, he said.

Effingham is about 30 miles south of Eastern Illinois' campus in Charleston.

Hoover joined Eastern Illinois in 2007 after serving as the offensive coordinator at Portland State. He also worked at Henderson State, Utah State, Claremont-McKenna College and his alma mater, UC Davis, and briefly coached the Arena Football League's Sacramento Attack.

Hoover was at Utah State from 2000-2004, coaching the Aggies' offensive line, who helped pave the way for USU running back legend Emmett White, who ranked 13th in the NCAA in rushing in 2000 and 11th in 2001. In 2000, Utah State was ranked among the top teams in the nation by allowing just 15 sacks. In 2001, the Aggies were 14th in the country in passing offense.

In 2003, Hoover coached USU's Outland Trophy candidate Trevor Hutton, who was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection and signed a free agent NFL contract, one of four to sign NFL contracts following their USU careers. Hoover also coached two Aggies to all-Big West honors in 2000, including first-team pick Jeff Long and second-team selection Jim Walker. In 2001, Walker was an all-independent honoree.

"We are very saddened by the loss of Jeff Hoover," Eastern Illinois athletic director Barbara Burke said. "He was a valuable member of our football staff and was looked up to by the young men in our football program. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Penny and their two children along with Eric Cash and his family in this difficult time."

Chris Vaccaro, an EIU offensive lineman, said Hoover always asked for the best from his players.

"Football coaches around the country turn into a second father for most of us players and for some of us our only father figure. Coach Hoover was that person to many of us," Vaccaro said. "He was a great man and a great coach."

The tragedy marks the second death this month for the athletic department. Assistant women's basketball coach Jackie Moore died Nov. 4 after collapsing as she started a workout. Doctors said the 28-year-old's heart "just stopped."

A memorial service for Hoover is planned, but no details were immediately available.

(Courtesy of USU athletic media relations)

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

UtahSports

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

KSL Weather Forecast