Former OU Assistant Gene Hochevar Passes Away

Originally Published: Dec 2, 2010 4:26 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

NORMAN, Oklahoma – Former Oklahoma assistant coach Gene Hochevar died Thursday at the age of 67.

The cause of death is uncertain but Oklahoma Sports is told he was dead upon arrival at the Heart Center, although non-heart related problemssurfaced a couple days ago.

Hochevar coached the Sooners’ offensive line and was part of the teams that won back-to-back national championships in 1974 and 1975. He left OU to become an assistant head coach for former OU coach Chuck Fairbanks at the University of Colorado.

"Coach Hochevar was one of those guys who never seemed to age," said Oklahoma Sports Sports Director Dean Blevins, who played for OU while Hochevar was part of the staff. "He was a heck of a coach, but a fantastic man who was so devoted to his family. His outgoing personality made him the epitome of a players’ coach. Coach [Barry] Switzer called me and was devastated. He and Gene had remained good friends throughout all the years."