EIU's Hoover remembered as good coach, great friend

CHARLESTON -- Eastern Illinois University players, coaches and athletics officials are remembering assistant football coach Jeff Hoover as a good coach and a great friend.

Hoover died in a car crash over the weekend as he returned home from a playoff game at Southern Illinois.

Hoover's wife Penny, strength coach Eric Cash and his wife Sherri, and one child remained hospitalized after the accident. Two children were released from a hospital Sunday.

Officials say the vehicle they were in swerved to avoid a deer and rolled over.

Roy Wittke is offensive coordinator for EIU. He says it was "a pleasure and honor" to have worked with Hoover.

Scott Maxfield, who worked with Hoover at Henderson State University, says everyone on staff was close to him.