Spring Break
Miami remembers former Head Coach Terry Hoeppner
After losing his battle with brain cancer June 19, players along with coaches, reflect on losing a former RedHawk
Ben Garbarek
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Sports
Indiana football Head Coach Terry Hoeppner will long be remembered at Miami University for his success orchestrating the RedHawks' magical season in 2003, in which they went 8-0 in Mid-American Conference play and won the GMAC Bowl.
"He made you a better person, not just a better player," senior defensive lineman Craig Mester said. "He was a real father figure, the patriarch of everyone."
Coach Hoeppner passed away this summer at the age of 59 from complications with brain cancer. A few weeks before his death, he announced he would sit out the 2007 season at Indiana because of his health, but his passing still sent shockwaves throughout the Miami community.
"He was a player's coach and really respected," senior running back Cory Jones said.
Those that were able to work with Hoeppner remember a man with infectious enthusiasm.
"He made it fun to work every day," said current Miami football Head Coach Shane Montgomery, who served as Hoeppner's offensive coordinator. "He enjoyed being around players and coaches."
Hoeppner left a lasting mark on Miami football that solidifies his legacy as one of the top coaches in Miami's history.
Coach Hep, as he was affectionately called, spent 19 years in Oxford coaching at Miami and many place him alongside coaching greats Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian and Bo Schembechler in the Cradle of Coaches. His 19 years in Oxford is the longest stay for any coach in Miami football history.
As much as Coach Hep is remembered fondly for who he was as an individual, his achievements and success on the field leave an equally large imprint on those that were around him.
"He put a lot of hard work into this program," Montgomery said. "He left the program in good shape."
Hoeppner spent 13 years as an assistant before becoming Miami's 31st head coach in 1999, succeeding the late Randy Walker who left Oxford for Northwestern.
Coach Hep inherited an already strong program from Walker that went 10-1 the season before he took over the reins.
"He made you a better person, not just a better player," senior defensive lineman Craig Mester said. "He was a real father figure, the patriarch of everyone."
Coach Hoeppner passed away this summer at the age of 59 from complications with brain cancer. A few weeks before his death, he announced he would sit out the 2007 season at Indiana because of his health, but his passing still sent shockwaves throughout the Miami community.
"He was a player's coach and really respected," senior running back Cory Jones said.
Those that were able to work with Hoeppner remember a man with infectious enthusiasm.
"He made it fun to work every day," said current Miami football Head Coach Shane Montgomery, who served as Hoeppner's offensive coordinator. "He enjoyed being around players and coaches."
Hoeppner left a lasting mark on Miami football that solidifies his legacy as one of the top coaches in Miami's history.
Coach Hep, as he was affectionately called, spent 19 years in Oxford coaching at Miami and many place him alongside coaching greats Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian and Bo Schembechler in the Cradle of Coaches. His 19 years in Oxford is the longest stay for any coach in Miami football history.
As much as Coach Hep is remembered fondly for who he was as an individual, his achievements and success on the field leave an equally large imprint on those that were around him.
"He put a lot of hard work into this program," Montgomery said. "He left the program in good shape."
Hoeppner spent 13 years as an assistant before becoming Miami's 31st head coach in 1999, succeeding the late Randy Walker who left Oxford for Northwestern.
Coach Hep inherited an already strong program from Walker that went 10-1 the season before he took over the reins.
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