ELYRIA, Ohio — De’van Bogard, a former Buckeyes defensive back who has been serving as a coach for Elyria High School’s football program, died early Tuesday morning in a fire.
Bogard was 27 years old.
According to the Elyria Fire Department, crews were called to an apartment complex on Washington Avenue. Firefighters extinguished the fire on the top floor of the apartment building.
Bogard was then found inside the apartment.
Bogard was a member of Ohio State’s football national championship team in 2014. Bogard appeared in 21 games from 2013-15.
Prior to joining the Buckeyes, he was a four-star recruit from Glenville HIgh School. He was high school teammates with future Buckeyes QB Cardale Jones, whose three-game run at the end of 2014 led the Buckeyes to the title.
The Elyria City School District released a statement Tuesday afternoon after learning of his death.
“De’van Bogard was an assistant coach with the Elyria Pioneer Football program,” the statement read. “Our student athletes and coaching staff are grieving his loss. The team is very connected. De’van was a valued member of the coaching staff. He held a pivotal role on the team and in the development of the players as students and athletes. The students received this news in a very supported environment today at school. Counselors and grief specialists were on hand for the staff and students and will be available throughout the week at school. As a district we offer our deepest sympathies to De’van’s family and friends.”
