Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Jake Shoff, former BYU basketball player, is remembered for his selflessness and dedication.
- Shoff tragically passed away in a car accident on February 6, leaving behind his family.
- He founded The Phoenix Recovery Center, impacting many lives through mental health services.
PROVO — One minute or half the game, playing time never was Jake Shoff's highest priority during his college basketball career.
The former Weber State and BYU player only wanted to help his team win, even going back to his high school days at Viewmont and American Fork. If it meant setting a screen or taking the game-winning shot and anything in between, he was happy to oblige.
"Just a great teammate," is the way Steve Cleveland, Shoff's coach at BYU, describes him.
Cleveland was one of the countless number of people paying tribute to Shoff, large in stature at 6-foot-9 and even larger in character as evidence by the outpouring of love shown to him over the last week. On Feb. 6, a medical incident caused the 46-year-old to crash his car on Interstate 15 and ultimately lose his life in the fatal accident.
He leaves behind his wife, Emily, and four boys ranging in age from 21 to 7, as well as his parents and six siblings. Aside from family, Shoff touched the hearts of nearly all who had the privilege to know him.
"As a husband, he loved my sister deeply and provided a life that she could only dream of. She never wanted for anything, and he always put her first. I've never seen a couple so madly and passionately in love as those two," said Shoff's brother-in-law and former BYU football player Ben Criddle, who emphasized Shoff had a similar commitment to his sons.
Recalling his relationship with his former player, Cleveland fought to control his emotions. It ran deep with the coach, as it did for many.
"I have had so many experiences with this young man," Cleveland said during his weekly appearance on The Zone. "When I found out about this, like many, it just kind of shakes your life. I reach out to sincerely let his sweet wife, their children, their extended family know how much we love Jake.
"It's hard to understand how these things happen, and when they do it's just devastating. The thing that I really remember about Jake is what a great teammate he was. There was never a time that I can remember in coaching that young man where there was anything negative that came out. It was just like, 'I'm here coach' and he was here to be the best that he could be."
As a senior at American Fork, Shoff averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in leading his team to the state championship game. After two years at Weber State sandwiched around a church mission to Honduras, he transferred to BYU.
He appeared in 57 games for the Cougars, posting modest career statistics of 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in his average of 11.5 minutes per game. More importantly, he played a role in helping BYU make NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004.
"He had moments where he played and he had moments where he didn't have a lot of playing time, but it never, ever bothered him," Cleveland said. "You can't coach for 40-some years and not have disgruntled players and — it's just part of the beast of coaching.
"I do not have one memory of that young man complaining about anything. He took the minute, or the 10 minutes or the 20 minutes and made it the best he could. That's what you loved about Jake. He was always happy. He always seemed settled in a real good place."
His time in college barely scratches the surface in detailing the man's life. In addition to his role as husband and father, Shoff was the founder of The Phoenix Recover Center.
According to his obituary, Shoff was a pioneer in the mental help services field. The work he and his team provided aided in the recovery for hundreds of people.
"When you needed a listening ear, he was there by your side," Criddle said. "When you were seeking counsel, he'd humbly advise. He always made you feel like the most important person in the world when you were with him.
"He was a maker of memories, a giver of good deeds, a follower of faith and always hopeful in humanity. He went about doing good in the vineyard and was always engaged in a great cause."
