ISU head coach Paul Rhoads called former Hawkeye football player Tyler Sash’s death “tragic” while meeting with the media on Wednesday night. 

In a game against Iowa State in 2009, Sash had three interceptions in a 35-3 rout of the Cyclones. Rhoads was in his first season at the helm for the Cyclones. 

“It’s just tragic,” Rhoads said. “Just awful in life, let alone in athletics, and the sadness that goes along with losing someone so young and so vibrant and meant so much and impacted so many people as well as a program.”

Sash was found dead in his Oskaloosa, Iowa, home on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports. The autopsy done Wednesday revealed no acute trauma but “cause and manner of death are pending further investigation and additional laboratory testing,” according to an Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office release. 

Sash was named to the All-Big 10 team in 2010 and finished his career with 13 interceptions, five shy of the school record. He went 3-1 against the Cyclones in his four seasons with Iowa.  

Following his college career, Sash was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

Iowa State is planning to hold a moment of silence for Sash at the Cy-Hawk football game on Saturday, according to media reports.