When the Arizona Wildcats began spring football practice in February, offensive lineman Zach Hemmila seemed excited about his future. Hemmila was entering his fifth season, and the starting center job was his for the taking.
After serving as a part-time starter at guard in 2015, Hemmila spent as much time as he could snapping the ball so he could master that critical skill. And not just during practice.
Hemmila entered training camp, which began Thursday, as the favorite to start at center. Then came the shocking revelation that Hemmila had been found dead Monday morning.
Teary-eyed UA coach Rich Rodriguez delivered the news to the team after practice, about 9 a.m. UA athletic director Greg Byrne told reporters soon after that Hemmila, 22, had passed away in his sleep overnight. A cousin found him in the morning. No other details were provided.
“The only thought on my mind right now is with Zach Hemmila’s family,” Rodriguez said. “We lost a great young man. Everybody in our program is hurting.”
Rodriguez said he had just spoken with Hemmila’s father, Joel. He and wife Linda had been visiting in recent days. Hemmila played for Chandler High School before attending the UA.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department took the initial 911 call, investigated the scene and has turned over the case to the county medical examiner, department spokesman Ryan Inglett said.
Hemmila’s body will be examined Tuesday, said Dr. Gregory Hess, chief medical examiner for Pima County. Results of those tests are expected in four to six weeks.
“That’s about all we know right now,” Hess said.
Rodriguez said he last saw Hemmila after a team meeting Sunday night. The two conversed — “out of the blue,” Rodriguez said — for about 45 minutes Saturday night.
“About everything,” Rodriguez said. “How happy he was.”
Rodriguez said the rest of the conversation would remain private.
Byrne said campus grief counselors would be made available to players and coaches. The team was scheduled to meet Monday afternoon. The Wildcats will practice Tuesday with no media access.
“As Coach said, he’s a great young man,” Byrne said. “We’re just so deeply saddened. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, the team, his teammates, the coaches and everybody involved.”
After speaking to the media at Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, Byrne greeted and hugged players as they quietly walked from the practice field to the locker room. Byrne and linebacker Jake Matthews shared a particularly long embrace.
Several of Hemmila’s current and former teammates honored him via social media Monday, many using the hashtag #forever65.
“Rest in peace, brother,” fellow offensive lineman Levi Walton tweeted. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
“I looked up to him like a big brother,” tweeted another offensive lineman, freshman Harper Sherman. “I’ll never forget you, bro.”
“God has called you home!” defensive lineman Darrell Cloy Jr. tweeted. “It will not be the same without you. My prayers are with you and your family.”
Hemmila earned all-state recognition at Chandler High, where he also played lacrosse. Wolves coach Shaun Aguano described Hemmila as a “good kid” with a memorable smile and a quirky personality.
“He was a huge part of our Chandler football family,” Aguano said. “His parents have always supported our team, and I feel absolutely horrible for them.
“I’m hurting right now, because a piece of our family is gone.”
Aguano said he talked to Hemmila about a month ago while in Tucson for a 7-on-7 event. Aguano said Hemmila was a regular visitor whenever he happened to be in Chandler.
“He was a big teddy bear at Chandler,” Aguano said. “Everybody liked him.”
Hemmila redshirted as a UA freshman in 2012 and worked with the scout team in ’13. He served as a backup the following season before starting six games at left guard last year.
Hemmila lost playing time after struggling in pass protection. He was working to improve his balance, among other facets of his game. He worked with the first-team line at center throughout spring and during the early portion of training camp.
Rodriguez was pleased with Hemmila’s progress at center, saying in spring: “I’m proud of Zach. He’s been here a long time — longer than me, I think.”
Hemmila actually was part of Rodriguez’s first recruiting class. Friends and former teammates remembered him more for his personality than his playing ability.
“Zach was an amazing person with an even bigger heart,” former Arizona long snapper Chase Gorham said. “He was one of my best friends on the team. The kid was such a hard worker and always fun to be around.
“I’m sure as you have seen, he made a huge impact on everyone’s life, including mine. He will forever be missed. And he was the best FIFA (soccer video game) player on the team and made sure everyone knew it too!”
Casey Matzke, a former UA team manager, became friends with Hemmila and part of a group that would hang out on Sunday nights.
“Zach had a smile that lit up the room. His laugh was hilarious and contagious,” Matzke said. “Those Sunday-night guys’ nights were some of my favorite college memories. We all started to go our separate ways through college, but every time I saw him I got a huge hug and greeting, even after I had stopped being a manager.”
Former Arizona offensive lineman Chris Putton used to live with Hemmila and described him as “the brother I never had.” The news of Hemmila’s death left Putton literally shaking.
“We made so many memories on and off the field,” Putton said. “Whenever we won a big game, I could count on Zach being one of the first people to get to me for a hug and to say ‘I love you. brother. I’m proud of you.’ ”
