Coroner Attributes Death of SNU Safety to Helmet Impact
Tyler Ulrich, 21, suffered a subdural hematoma during an away game on October 10 and died five days later in hospital.
By Leila Reynolds ·
Garland County Coroner's Office records confirm that Tyler Ulrich, a safety at Southern Nazarene University, died from a traumatic brain injury and a brain bleed. The report, released to the public on October 30, specifies that a helmet-to-helmet collision caused a subdural hematoma. Ulrich was 21 years old when he passed away on October 15, five days after being hospitalized following an injury sustained in a Division II game.
The injury occurred during an away match against Ouachita Baptist University. Head coach Dustin Hada stated that Ulrich was involved in a group tackle when the collision happened. Paramedics attended to him on the field for approximately 60 minutes before transporting him to a local hospital. Team radio announcer Dave Myrick noted that the play itself appeared routine until players began waving for medical staff, indicating a sudden concern. Myrick recalled seeing the team's reaction and hearing them call for help, which marked the moment the situation changed.
Southern Nazarene University previously described the cause of death as a traumatic injury without providing specific medical details. A university spokesperson said on Friday that they had not yet received the coroner's report at the time of an interview. The school held a Celebration of Life service for Ulrich in Azle, Texas, the following Sunday. The spokesperson added that the campus community is remembering the player's family, teammates, and coaches in prayer.
Ulrich was a redshirt sophomore and ranked among the team's top three tacklers. According to data from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, he is one of only two football players to die from a traumatic head or neck injury during a game in the last nine years. He is also the second college football player to die from a game-related incident this season. MicahJo Barnett of William Jewell College collapsed on the sideline in early August, though that institution did not disclose the specific cause of death.
The Southern Nazarene team finished the game against Ouachita Baptist but skipped the following week's schedule. They returned to competition last Saturday, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State University 60-37. Coach Hada, who has led the program since 2019, said the team is coping as best as possible. He described Ulrich as an outstanding player and a quiet leader in the locker room.
