Southern Nazarene football player Tyler Ulrich dies from head injury
Tyler Ulrich, a 21‑year‑old sophomore defensive back at Southern Nazarene University, died Thursday after a traumatic head injury suffered during a Division II football game on Saturday.
The incident has reverberated through the Bethany, Oklahoma campus, leading Southern Nazarene to cancel its scheduled game with Southwestern Oklahoma State and to mobilize counseling resources for students and staff.
Ulrich’s injury occurred during the Crimson Storm’s loss to Ouachita Baptist. The play prompted a nearly hour‑long delay while medical personnel attended to him on the field before he was transported to a nearby hospital. He remained under intensive care for five days before passing away.
“Earlier today, Tyler Ulrich, a beloved member of our SNU football team and student body, passed away,” SNU President Keith Newman said in an official statement. “Tyler sustained a traumatic injury during last Saturday’s football game. Since that time, he has been in the hospital, continually surrounded by the love, prayers, and presence of his family, teammates, and dear friends.”
Family members posted tributes on social media. His father, Mark Ulrich, wrote that the family was “truly blessed to receive all the love and prayers” and announced that “the Lord called Tyler this morning at 11:13 a.m.”
Head coach Dustin Hada described Ulrich as a “Man of God, ultimate example of quiet strength, loyal, worker, joyous.” Assistant coach Josh Stansell called him “a warrior, a rare breed, always putting his teammates before self, and his faith in Jesus Christ was the one thing he loved most.”
In response to the tragedy, Southern Nazarene’s Renew Counseling Center and campus pastors are offering assistance to anyone processing the loss. The university also confirmed that the upcoming game against Southwestern Oklahoma State has been cancelled, allowing the community time to grieve.
A memorial service for Ulrich is being planned for later this week, and the university has indicated that it will review safety protocols to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
