Kayla Saager-Beckley, a former college soccer star and the wife of Tulsa football assistant coach John Beckley, has died at the age of 30 while pregnant with the couple's first child.
Tulsa head coach Tre Lamb revealed the news at his press conference on Monday, sharing details of how the team plans to honor Saager-Beckley's life and support her husband, the Golden Hurricane's outside linebackers coach.
Lamb said Saager-Beckley died at around 7am last Wednesday. "She was working out, 10 minutes later she was found unresponsive," he said.
"It's just been a really hard week for him [Beckley], for us as a staff, our coach's wives," Lamb continued. "She was 30 years old. She was pregnant with their daughter, Sawyer."
Tulsa holds memorial for Saager-Beckley
Lamb said the team held a memorial for Saager-Beckley the previous night. "It's been tough on our staff. We had a memorial for her last night. We just ask that you please pray for the Saager family, the Beckley family," he said.
"We're going to honor her with a helmet sticker this week at our game, and she's definitely in our thoughts and prayers," Lamb added.
Saager-Beckley and Beckley had only recently married, tying the knot in June.
Binghamton remembers 'dangerous and dynamic forward'
Saager-Beckley was a former star player for the Binghamton University women's soccer team, known as the Bearcats. Binghamton, part of the State University of New York system, competes in the America East Conference.
Binghamton released a statement on its website last week under the headline "Bearcats mourn passing of soccer alum Kayla Saager '19."
Soccer head coach Neel Bhattacherjee paid tribute to his former player. "Kayla was a dangerous and dynamic forward with a true gift for finding the back of the net, and her contributions helped elevate the competitiveness and stature of our program. To this day we stand on her shoulders," he said.
"Beyond the field, she was known for her big heart and her deep love of family. We are devastated by this loss and send our heartfelt sympathy and support to her parents Ron and Noranne and her husband John," Bhattacherjee said. "Kayla, you are forever and always a Bearcat. May you rest in peace."
No cause of death has yet been revealed for the 30-year-old.
