Terry Hoeppner facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 19, 1947 Woodburn, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | June 19, 2007 (aged 59) Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1965–1968 | Franklin (IN) |
| 1972 | Indiana Caps |
| 1974 | Detroit Wheels |
| 1975 | Charlotte Hornets |
| Position(s) | Safety |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1970–1972 | Eastbrook HS (IN) |
| 1974–1975 | Pinson Valley HS (AL) (AHC) |
| 1976–1978 | Mullins HS (SC) |
| 1979 | East Noble HS (IN) |
| 1980–1985 | Franklin (IN) (DC) |
| 1986–1992 | Miami (OH) (LB) |
| 1993–1998 | Miami (OH) (AHC) |
| 1999–2004 | Miami (OH) |
| 2005–2006 | Indiana |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 57–39 (college) |
| Bowls | 1–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 Mid-American (2003) 2 Mid-American East Division (2003–2004) |
|
| Awards | |
| MAC Coach of the Year (2003) | |
Terry Lee Hoeppner (born August 19, 1947 – died June 19, 2007) was a well-known American college football coach. He led the Miami RedHawks team from 1999 to 2004. Later, he coached the Indiana Hoosiers from 2005 to 2006. Sadly, he passed away from brain cancer shortly after announcing he would take time off for his health.
Terry Hoeppner graduated from Franklin College in 1969. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He also played professional football for teams like the Indiana Caps and the Detroit Wheels. As a college head coach, he had a great record, winning 57 games and losing 39. He is honored in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.
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Terry Hoeppner's Family
Terry Hoeppner and his wife, Jane, had three children. Their names are Drew Hoeppner, Amy Fox, and Allison Hoeppner. Sadly, Allison passed away in a car accident in 2016.
Playing Football
Terry Hoeppner played football himself before becoming a coach. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969. However, an injury during training camp stopped him from playing for them.
He played for the Indiana Caps in 1972. In 1973, he joined the Green Bay Packers, but was released before the season started. He then played for the Detroit Wheels in 1974. After that team closed, he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
Coaching in High School
Terry Hoeppner started his coaching career in high schools. He was a head coach at several schools. These included Eastbrook High School in Indiana from 1970 to 1972. He also coached at Pinson Valley High School in Alabama. Later, he coached at Mullins High School in South Carolina and East Noble High School in Indiana.
Coaching in College
Assistant Coach Roles
Terry Hoeppner's first college coaching job was at his old school, Franklin College. He worked there as the defensive coordinator, helping to plan the team's defense. He stayed there for six years.
In 1986, he moved to Miami University to coach the linebackers. Over 12 years, he moved up to become the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He helped many players improve, including future NFL players like JoJuan Armour and Sheldon White.
Head Coach at Miami University
After being an assistant for 13 years, Hoeppner became the head coach of the Miami RedHawks in 1999. His first game as head coach was a big win. Even though his first year had some challenges, his new style of play paid off.
Under Hoeppner, the Miami team had a strong record of 48 wins and 25 losses. They often finished near the top of their conference. A big part of his success was recruiting Ben Roethlisberger. Other teams wanted Roethlisberger to play different positions, but Hoeppner promised him he could play quarterback. Roethlisberger later became a very successful quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL).
Hoeppner's best season was in 2003. With Roethlisberger as quarterback, Miami won 13 games and lost only 1. They finished the season ranked No. 10 in the country.
Head Coach at Indiana University
In 2005, Terry Hoeppner became the head coach at Indiana University. He started a campaign called "Coach Hoeppner wants you" to get people excited about the team. The Hoosiers started his first season well, winning 4 of their first 5 games.
After that season, Hoeppner was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The next year, the team started strong again. Hoeppner's goal for the team was to "Play 13," meaning to play in a 13th game, which is usually a college bowl game. In 2007, after his passing, the team achieved his goal and played in the Insight Bowl.
In September 2006, Hoeppner needed more brain surgery. He missed two weeks of the season but returned to coach.
Terry Hoeppner's Passing
On March 18, 2007, it was announced that Hoeppner would not coach spring practices due to his health. In June 2007, Indiana University shared that he would take a medical leave for the entire 2007 season. Assistant coach Bill Lynch would take over. Soon after this announcement, Terry Hoeppner passed away from complications related to his brain cancer.
