BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Jane Hoeppner insisted on celebrating her husband's life his way — in groundbreaking style.

Terry Hoeppner, the Hoosiers' football coach the past two seasons, died Tuesday morning from complications of a brain tumor with his family at his side. He was 59.

By midafternoon Hoeppner's wife, mother, sister and two of his children were sitting inside a tent outside the football stadium, kicking off Hoeppner's pet project — a $55 million upgrade to the school's athletic facilities.

What was supposed to be a grand day for Indiana athletics, quickly turned into a surreal, emotional memorial service.

Hoeppner's death hit everyone in the Indiana football community hard.

Players were stunned by the news since many were unaware how serious Hoeppner's illness was until the first of two early morning team meetings Tuesday. Three players said they had no idea he was so ill, and even after being told he had died, some were still in disbelief.

"I was in denial, at first, I refused to believe that he wasn't coming back," defensive back Tracy Porter said.