Assistant Football Coach Dies In Car Accident

UW-Oshkosh assistant football coach Joe Mostofi died Saturday (March 5) morning from injuries he received in a three-car and semitrailer accident in the southbound lanes on U.S. Highway 41, 10 miles north of Oshkosh.

Mostofi, 27, was traveling from Appleton to Brookfield East High School for the 14th Annual Wisconsin All-American Youth Football League Coaches Clinic. The Titans' defensive line and strength and conditioning coach was scheduled to be one of four clinicians at the event.

"We are deeply saddened and stunned by the tragedy involving Joe," said UW-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Allen Ackerman. "We've lost a member of our athletics staff, and it really hurts. Joe was a gifted leader and a mentor to young people. Our hearts go out to the Mostofi family, and we all grieve with them."

Mostofi was in his second season as a member of the football coaching staff at UW-Oshkosh. The 1996 Appleton North High School graduate also was a one-on-one counselor in UW-Oshkosh's Health Directions Program, which educates and mentors students cited for underage drinking.

Previously, Mostofi was an assistant football coach at Oshkosh North High School and was a physical education teacher during the 2002-03 school year at Oshkosh's Webster Stanley Elementary School.

Mostofi graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 2002 and participated in both football and track and field for the Titans. He earned four varsity letters in track and field (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001) and one in football (1998).

In 2000, Mostofi earned All-WIAC second team honors after placing second in the shot put at the league's outdoor track and field championship. Mostofi was a member of UW-Oshkosh track and field teams that captured WIAC indoor titles in 1999 and 2001.

Visitation for Mostofi will be held from 3 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday (March 8) and from 10 until 11 a.m. on Wednesday (March 9) at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. Richmond Street, Appleton. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Valley Funeral Home.

A memorial fund for the UW-Oshkosh Sports Complex has been established. Please contact UW-Oshkosh head football coach Phil Meyer or UW-Oshkosh Director of Athletics Allen Ackerman for details.