Roethlisberger’s College Coach Hoeppner Passes Away

The man who coached Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in college has lost his battle with a brain tumor. Terry Hoeppner coached Roethlisberger at Miami University of Ohio from 2000 to 2003, where Roethlisberger still holds school records for career passing yards and touchdowns.

Hoeppner died early yesterday at a Bloomington, IN hospital at the age of 59, after battling the tumor which caused him to have two brain surgeries within the last 18 months. Hoeppner offered Roethlisberger a college scholarship after watching him throw six touchdowns as a high school freshman. Hoeppner was also at Roethlisberger’s side after the quarterback’s near-fatal motorcycle accident last year. Hoeppner leaves behind a wife, three children and four grandchildren. Hoeppner last coached at Indiana University in 2005 and 2006.