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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Arizona lineman Zach Hemmila dies in his sleep at age 22

Arizona+offensive+lineman+Zach+Hemmila+at+practice+on+Friday%2C+Aug.+5.+Hemmila%26nbsp%3Bpassed+away+in+his+sleep+and+was+found+dead+Monday+morning.
Courtney Talak

Arizona offensive lineman Zach Hemmila at practice on Friday, Aug. 5. Hemmila passed away in his sleep and was found dead Monday morning.

Arizona senior offensive lineman Zach Hemmila was found dead on Monday morning, Arizona head football coach Rich Rodriguez confirmed after Monday’s practice.

Hemmila, 22, passed away in his sleep, according to Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne. 

Byrne and Rodriguez notified the football team following their Monday morning practice.

“We lost a great young man,” Rodriguez said. “Everybody in the program is hurting.”

Rodriguez said he did not know any of the details of Hemmila’s death. Rodriguez had last spoken with Hemmila on Saturday night for about 45 minutes “about everything.”

Hemmila grew up in Chandler, Arizona, and played at Chandler High School.

He appeared in 13 games last season and was in competition for the starting center position heading into the 2016 season.

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