Collegian File Photo

Fresno State alumnus and former Collegian sports editor Darrell Copeland passed away suddenly Monday night at a recreational softball league game. He was 25 years old.

Copeland, who graduated with his degree in mass communication and journalism with an emphasis in public relations in 2009, collapsed at the game Monday night while playing for his team “Bulldog Born.” He died later that night at Saint Agnes Hospital.

“Last we heard, the doctors weren’t really sure what caused it, so we are still waiting to hear about that,” Eddie Hughes, friend and colleague of Copeland, said.

Hughes, who worked as editor-in-chief at The Collegian, had known Copeland for more than six years. They had remained friends ever since.

“Darrell lived life in the most pure way,” Hughes said. “He was a model person, the type of person everyone wanted to be around. It’s just a huge loss.”

Hughes said that Fresno State always held great importance in Copeland’s life.

“Fresno State was always something Darrell had a passion for as an alumni, student and fan,” he said. “He is an icon [for Fresno State] and truly gives us a good name.”

Copeland will be greatly missed by some his professors.

“This is shocking news,” Virginia Sellars-Erxleben, business manager of The Collegian, said. “Darrell was a stalwart sports editor at The Collegian ”” a rock that held the student editors together during Nathan Hathaway’s illness and passing [former Collegian editor] . He always had a smile for everyone, and his depth of intelligence was constantly apparent. Darrell will be deeply missed.”

“He was a ray of sunshine in our department,” Dr. Tamrya Pierce, mass communication and journalism department chair, said. “I had Darrell in two classes. Even after he was no longer in my classes, Darrell would always stop by my office and spend some time and talk. Whether in the class or chatting with others in the halls, Darrell always had a smile on his face and lit up a room. His positive attitude was infectious. He will always have a place in our hearts. We will miss him deeply.”

Jim Tucker, former adviser at The Collegian, worked closely with Copeland during his time as sports editor.

“I taught at Fresno State for almost 40 years and probably had about 10,000 students, and Darrell was one of my favorites,” Tucker said. “He was just really fun to work with and he worked hard. He knew all sports well. I was hard on him sometimes and he took criticism very well. He wanted to learn.”

Brandon Santiago went to Fresno State with Copeland and graduated with him in 2009.

“That was one of my last memories: me, him and a friend were waiting together for our caps and gowns, and it was a very long wait,” Santiago said. “[Copeland] made the wait very bearable.“

Copeland was the sports editor and reporter at The Collegian for four years. He later went to work at the Fresno Grizzlies as a sports information manager.