Ed Hoffmeyer, former Mars Hill Athletic Director and MHU Athletic Hall of Fame Member Passes
Ed Hoffmeyer, retired long-time athletics director, coach, and administrator at Mars Hill University, died Wednesday, December 2, 2020, following a courageous battle with cancer.
MARS HILL, N.C. - Ed Hoffmeyer, retired long-time athletics director, coach, and administrator at Mars Hill University, died Wednesday, December 2, 2020, following a courageous battle with cancer.
No stranger to Mars Hill, Hoffmeyer served his alma mater in several capacities. Following a 20-year sales and marketing career, he began his Mars Hill tenure in 1988 as Director of Alumni Services, before being named Director of Athletics in 1991. He later served as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid from 2007 until August 2011, and men's and women's golf coach after his retirement from full-time service to Mars Hill.
During Hoffmeyer's eight-year term as athletic director at Mars Hill, the school's athletics program experienced rapid growth. Mars Hill added five varsity sports, bringing the total to 16, and transitioned to the NCAA Division II from its previous NAIA affiliation. Mars Hill won four conference titles and produced 16 South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athletes during the Hoffmeyer years.
"Ed Hoffmeyer brought me to Mars Hill in 1994 as the Sports Information Director and Assistant Baseball Coach and I have been here ever since," Director of Athletics Rick Baker stated. "My family has enjoyed an incredible life being part of the Mars Hill University family for 27 years. He was a great mentor and leader for me and I will forever be indebted to Ed for the opportunities he provided for me and my family. Without Ed believing in my potential, I would not be where I am today."
Hoffmeyer hired Head Football Coach Tim Clifton in 1993 and Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Sports Medicine Allen Shelley in 1994, bringing to Mars Hill two leaders who continue to serve at the university. Clifton said, "Because of Ed, I have been at Mars Hill for 28 years. He was a great boss and not only a great friend to me, he was a great friend to my family."
Hoffmeyer left Mars Hill in 1998 to lead the athletics program at Tusculum College (now Tusculum University). As he did for Mars Hill, Hoffmeyer directed Tusculum's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II and oversaw one of the most successful periods in Tusculum athletic history. Hoffmeyer was recognized along with his wife, Linda, as Tusculum's Sports Benefactor of the Year in 2007.
He stepped down as athletic director at Tusculum in 2007 to return to Mars Hill in the role of Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, a position he would hold for four years until his retirement in 2011.
But retirement couldn't keep him away from Mars Hill, and Hoffmeyer remained on campus though to serve as the Lions' men's and women's golf coach. He previously served as men's golf coach from 1995-1998, leading the Lions to a No. 10 regional ranking in 1998 and being named SAC Coach of the Year. He would guide the MHU golf teams for five more years before retiring in 2016.
Hoffmeyer was active on a number of national and regional athletic committees. He served as national chair of the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championship Committee. He was a member of the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association's Board of Directors and served as chairman of the South Atlantic Conference Athletic Directors Council.
Other accolades include being inducted into Mars Hill's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and in the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame, also in 2008, and in the Tusculum Hall of Fame in 2018. Hoffmeyer also served as chair of NCAA DII Women's Golf Committee from 2000-2003 and was the NCAA DII Women's National Golf Championship Tournament Director from 2000-2003.
During his college days at Mars Hill, Hoffmeyer was a three-year letter winner in track and field, where he participated in five events per meet. He held school records in four events upon graduation in 1968. Hoffmeyer also lettered in basketball one year.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda Wood Hoffmeyer; children: Zac Hoffmeyer and Courtney Mollman; and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Marty Hurst, and brother, Don Hoffmeyer. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
