Former BYU Basketball Star Jake Shoff Tragically Loses Life In Car Accident

The late Jake Shoff would have turned 47 this September.

February 7, 2026

This article was last updated by Reesav Niroula on February 7, 2026

Jake Shoff, a former forward center of Brigham Young University, recently passed away at the age of 46, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.

According to a family friend, Jake Shoff, a former BYU basketball tragically passed away in an auto accident in i15.

While the details regarding the tragic accident of Jake Shoff aren’t available currently, many of his friends and loved ones are sending their heartfelt prayers to the former BYU basketball star’s family.

Horrible news today. Jake Shoff, a former BYU basketball player and family friend, tragically passed away in an auto accident. He will be so deeply missed. Prayers to Emily and the boys during this heartbreaking time. 💔

— Go Cougs! (@Cougarwire)

Jake Shoff played basketball from 2001 to 2004, leading his team, the Cougars, in the back-to-back NCAA Tournament.

Moreover, although his games were limited by illness and injury, he played in 57 of 62 games over two seasons with the Cougars and achieved career highs of 15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.

Prior to BYU, Jake Shoff showcased his exceptional basketball skills at Weber State, where he started 19 of 28 games as a sophomore, scoring 7.4 points and pulling down a team-best 6.0 rebounds.

In his freshman season with Weber State Wildcats, he averaged 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds.

He further served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Honduras after his freshman year.

Jake Shoff was one of the three players to earn Region 4 Tri-Player of the Year honors.

Previously, in July 2017, Jake Shoff almost lost after a Wasp attack during a Hawaiian vacation with family.

Their Kayaks hit a wasp’s nest dangling above a riverbank on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Unaware of his wasp sting allergy, Jake Shoff was saved by two strangers whom his family called “angles” for their heroic act. They jumped into the water to rescue the then 38-year-old, Jake.

Michelle Garcia Winner and Pam Crooke, vacationers from San Jose, California, were the two strangers who saved Jake Shoff and his family’s life.

Moreover, they realized that Jake was in anaphylactic shock when he passed out and began foaming at the mouth, struggling to breathe. They jumped in to hold Jake’s head above water and worked with his wife to keep his mouth free of saliva.

Michelle later recalled the life-threatening incident, fearing Jake might suffer brain damage if he survived. While he overcame the life-threatening wasp attack in 2017, he couldn’t survive the recent car accident.

Jake Shoff Is Survived By His Wife, Emily Criddle Shoff, And Their Four Sons

Left to cherish Jake Shoff’s life are his wife, Emily Criddle Shoff, thier four sons, and the whole Shoff family.

Jake Shoff had four sons, Zachary Jacob, Brady Michael, Grant William, and Maximus James, with longtime wife Emily Criddle Shoff.

The couple tied the knot on October 26, 2001, and were happily married almost 25 years before the tragic accident took Jake Shoff’s life.

Similarly, Jake and Emily welcomed their firstborn, Zachary Jacob, on July 13, 2003. Their eldest son Zachary is a former missionary worker at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and graduated from Snoe College.

The couple gave birth to their second son, Brady Michael, on July 14, 2007, and their third son, Grant, in December 2014.

Moreover, their youngest son, Maximus James, was born in October 2017, months after Jake Shoff’s life-threatening incident.

Jake Shoff’s tragic demise has shattered the whole Shoff family; he often shared glimpses of his adventurous life with his wife and four sons and was loved by all for his humble nature.

After graduating from Brigham Young University in 2004 with a bachelor of business management and marketing degree, Jake Shoff left his sports journey to pursue his .

He was an exceptional businessman who served as the co-founder and CEO of Alpine Treatment Services, LLC, for almost four years before establishing his own company.

For almost 13 years, Jake Shoff was the owner and CEO of The Phoenix Recovery Center, LLC, in Salt Lake City in South Jordan.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Jake Shoff lived with his wife, Emily Criddle, and four sons in South Jordan, Utah, United States.
• He was born on September 1978 in Biloxi, Missouri, to father Carl and mother Mary Ann Shoff.
• His family hasn’t revealed any information about Jake’s demise and funeral service yet.

• Check other Articles on

Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.

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