CHARLESTON, Ill. - Tragedy struck the Eastern Illinois athletic family for the second time in less than a month as Panther assistant football coach Jeff Hoover was killed in a single vehicle accident late Saturday night just south of Effingham, Ill.
Hoover along with his family and EIU strength coach Eric Cash and his family were returning from Eastern Illinois first round playoff game at Southern Illinois when the vehicle they were driving swerved to miss a deer and rolled over. Two people were released from the hospital early Sunday morning while all others involved in the accident were transported to a hospital in Champaign, Ill., for further observation.
"We are very saddened by the loss of Jeff Hoover," stated EIU athletic director Barbara Burke on Sunday morning. "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."
Hoover, 41, just completed his third season as the Panthers offensive line coach. He had previous assistant coaching stops at Portland State, Utah State, Henderson State and UC Davis.