Skip to main content
SI

Hyperthermia likely cause in Kent State athlete's death

KENT, Ohio (AP) An Ohio county coroner says hyperthermia is the likely cause of death of a Kent State University football player who died following a morning

KENT, Ohio (AP) An Ohio county coroner says hyperthermia is the likely cause of death of a Kent State University football player who died following a morning workout.

The Portage County Coroner says an autopsy indicates hyperthermia is the preliminary reason Tyler Heintz died Tuesday morning. Hyperthermia occurs when the body fails to cool itself after exposure to extreme heat.

College Football Bracket Challenge

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

Paramedics transported Heintz to a hospital following football conditioning drills at Dix Stadium. Heintz, an incoming freshman, was recruited from Kenton High School as an offensive lineman.

The coroner's office says it's waiting for further test results to see if there were other contributing factors to Heintz' death.

University officials did not respond to questions about the university's policies regarding athletes working out in the heat.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Published | Modified